You don’t have to invest a ton of money to make your home more appealing to potential buyers – a few tips and tricks might just do the trick. Here are seven steps to stage your home for maximum effect.

Step 1: Start outdoors

For homebuyers, the first impression starts before they even get out of the car, so make your front yard and walkway as appealing as possible. Plant some flowers, rake any leaves, remove weeds, paint the fence and porch—make sure everything is in tiptop condition.

Step 2: Clear the clutter

Put away knickknacks and any odds and ends that wouldn’t be in a model home. If you’re in a hurry, just stick them in your car, inside desk drawers, or in other places the buyers won’t look.

Step 3: Let the sun shine in

Open up your blinds and curtains; light makes a room look bigger.

TIP: Appealing aromas like coffee beans and freshly baked cookies make people feel at home and put them in a good mood. So put on a pot of good coffee and pop a roll of cookie dough in the oven.

Step 4: Pare down

Put extra furniture in storage and clear the kitchen counter of appliances like the microwave oven and toaster. Besides making your house look bigger, it will help prospective buyers picture their own belongings in your home.

Step 5: Throw around pillows

Steal a page from the home décor magazines: add throw pillows to make rooms look warm, comfortable, and inviting. And put soft, fluffy comforters on the beds, even if it’s summer.

Step 6: Make it less personal

Remove family photos and your kids’ artwork from the fridge. Homebuyers like to imagine what it would be like to live in the house; your photographs subconsciously prevent them from doing that.

Step 7: Splurge on fresh flowers

Put fresh flowers throughout the home. The sight and scent of flowers are proven mood boosters, which will help buyers look more favorably upon your home.

FACT: Industry surveys show that staging your home can make it sell three months sooner, and for 3% more!