Impress potential buyers

Retailers know that to sell merchandise, you have to display it well.

The same goes for your house.

Here are some tips for getting your home ready for the market from Beth Ann Shepherd of the home-staging company Dressed to Close in Los Angeles:

Increase curb appeal with new sod, fresh landscaping, landscape lighting or maybe just an updated front door and handle.

Make a good first impression by placing an oversized mirror in the entry (people love to look at themselves) or a dramatic piece of artwork.

Add fresh flowers and scented candles.

Refresh old or worn flooring. Consider refinishing hardwood floors in a darker color. If carpet needs to be replaced, choose a light-taupe Berber.

Open your mind to new layouts that make furniture unobtrusive.

Install stainless-steel appliances to modernize your kitchen and add perceived value.

Give your bathroom a five-star-hotel look with thick, white towels, including two hand towels placed next to each sink. Add a wood tray with scented candles and beautiful containers holding cotton balls and cotton swabs.

Clean and reorganize closets , culling their contents so they're only half-full. Put all shoes on racks, and leave nothing on the floor.

Add cedar blocks for scent and matching wood hangers.

Dress your master bedroom like a luxury hotel suite, with thick white sheets, pillows and duvet, a tray with a couple of books, scented candles and a warm wall color. Add one plant that reaches the ceiling to add perceived height and a seating area or chair with a reading light.

Eliminate clutter, photos, notes, pens and pencils.

Hook up an MP3 player to wireless speakers placed casually throughout your house, and play "Frank Sinatra's Greatest Hits" during showings. Consider investing in at least one plasma TV to add perceived value.

Add drama to outdoor areas with furniture, outdoor pillows, light fixtures and accessories. Set a table with colorful place mats, napkins and napkin rings. Lean an oversize mirror against a back wall to add the appearance of more space.

— Mary Beth Breckenridge, Akron Beacon Journal