Maybe you could advertize it to be the "JEWEL OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD" and use the basic stage package with a brilliant looking entry door, flowers, color splashes and ...like you said, warm inviting fresh baked cookies aroma. Price it well and make sure your remarks say something special to let buyers know there's NO WAITING for short sale delays with this one ... use that to your advantage since that's what buyers seem to see a lot of in the listings.

Hi Mimi,
You have some great answers here. In order to properly show the best features of your property, it needs to have a report done and then possibly staged by a professional stager. We have been trained to have a buyers eye and also know placement of furniture and accessories which accent your home. I would be happy to chat with you if you like. Call me at :916-300-0402 and l will help you. You can also check my site out at: artfuljourney.net

Because most of your competition today are bank repos and short sales. You are well out ahead just by having a clean, orderly pleasant smelling house. Have your agent advertise that the house has been staged.

Though the neighborhood might be a tad shabby, you can give your front curb appeal the best look. Rake, sweep, trim branches away from paths and walkways, keep the grass fertilized (chems not natural due to the smell ) watered cut and green. pull all the weeds. Plant a few colorful spring flowers strategically about the property. Stage the exterior first so that people will be positive about the place before they even open the door. Make showings easy. Tell your agent not to hide the lockbox. Leave basic showing instructions for agents on your answering machine. (No alarm codes though)

If the neighborhood is a tad shabby, grab a wheelbarrow and pick up litter on your block.
1. It will help the street seem less shabby to visitors
2. It might inspire some of the other neighbors to imitate you. ( Well I did say "might")
3. Some neighbor might ask you why you are doing that, it gives you a chance to tell them that your house is going up for sale, you might get a buyer that way.

Hi Mimi,

Every home benefits from staging and in this market, you almost can't afford not to.

In a not-so-good neighborhood, I would suggest having it staged to look like something out of a magazine, even if it means renting a few items to give it some punch. The rational is to make the iinterior compete with the better houses. A buyer can rationalize buying in your neighborhood, and your house in particular, because the interior will make them feel the same way the more expensive houses will but for a lessor price.

It's all about psychology. In your area, I'd contact Jennie Morris at "We Stage Sacramento". It'll be money well spent.

Karen Negrete, ASP, IAHSP, IRIS
Tranform Your Place

You are definitely on the right track in investigating staging your home to sell at the best price, especially competing with bank owned properties. Buying a home is still an emotional decision, and a buyer's experience when visiting the home, will affect how much they are willing to pay for the home.

Fresh paint is key, the front entrance is another area to focus on and then the question I would have for you is , is this a vacant home, or currently occupied? If it's vacant, staging key rooms is worthwhile, and as the others said, smaller sized furniture shows more space. If it's occupied, De-staging is also a consideratiion.

Stagers used to charge for their first visit but are now more willing to come in, and give some ideas on approach in preparation of creating a proposal for their services. Setting up an appointment may give you some ideas for free.

Another idea...lighting. Make sure all of the rooms have new lightbulbs and plenty of natural or other lighting. ...just a few ideas.

Mimi,
If it is a smaller home go small on whatever furniture you bring in. Your goal should be to make the place seem as large as possible. So no overstuffed furniture. No large coffee tables, or large dining room tables. Make sure you have a wide lane to walk thru all rooms. If you put a bed in make sure it is not a King size. You want to make the rooms seem as large as possible. Baking cookies right before an open house is good. Fresh flowers is also a good idea. I would do one or the other though. If you put in fresh flowers and bake cookies the smells will compete againest each other. Not always a winning combination. So one or the other.

Larry Story
Coldwell Banker Triad

All marketing is based on the right price. The right price is the corner stone upon which everything else is built. You could have the best staged house in the area, but if it is priced too high, you are throwing money and time away.
I will assume you have a great price, since you recognize that you are just outside a more desirable area, and your neighbor's homes are not attractive.
I am a great believer in staging. The right staging will make for a faster sale and better offers. If you cannot afford staging, at least paint clean and paint and do all you can to make the house bright and fresh. See if you can put some kind of representational furniture in each room, a bed, a table, a couch. Furniture will give an empty room scale. A room with furniture will look bigger than an empty room. If you cannot afford a stager, go to Ikea and get a few pieces that are attractive, and light and stylish. You can sell them on Craigslist after the sale.

Good Luck