especially if they hav e diff erent religious and political backgrounds. You want potential buyers to see themselves as the owners. No hobby or enthusiast evidence! One prospective buyer I represented opened the garage to a house she was considering making her own home t o fin d a partially dismembered deer, as a result of the homeowner’s hunting and taxidermy hobby. She moved on—quickly. She didn’t consider the home any further, although it was equal in most ways to others she liked and had an attractive price. She just couldn’t get past that dead deer in “her” garage. LIGHTING THE WAY Whether natural or art ifi cial, good, bright light is one of the most e ff ective ways to show o ff y our home. Using light to enhance your home’s appeal can mak e a diff erence. Oddly, this is an aspect of staging that’s o ft en overlooked. Light that is too dim or too harsh is un fl attering to th e fin est furnishings and best features of the house. Assess the lighting in each area of your home for ideas on where to bring in added light. Rooms with abundant windows greatly bene fi t from natural light, as your home will be seen during the day. Supplemental light is necessary for rooms with smaller windows or limited natural light. One quick, eas y fix i s to increase the wattage of light bulbs in your lamps. As a rule, there should be 100 watts for each 50 square feet of space. Keep in mind that there are three basic kinds of lighting. General lighting or overhead lighting is typically ambient. Pendant lights are good for tasks like food preparation or reading. Accent lights are usually found on tables or mounted on walls. You can use all three to bring out the best your home has to o ff er. Key areas, such as foyers, can set the stage by impressing buyers
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