Nail the sale: Britt Skrivanek and Athena Gu

Buyers usually seek out large rooms, and clutter is never appealing. To ensure that Skrivanek and Gu's house looks inviting to prospective buyers when they first walk in, Barie Pinnell and Evie Boston, stagers at WRE Interiors, suggest a few visual tricks to make the sparsely furnished living room and den look warmer and more spacious.

Among them: Create a focal point in the living room by moving the couches away from the walls and positioning them adjacent to the fireplace. Then add new curtains and throw pillows to brighten up the room. The nearly empty den would look better with a neater desk and bookcase, art work on the wall and computer wiring tucked away.

Becki Gregg, owner of Home Girl Staging, urges Skrivanek and Gu to clear off countertops and clean out closets to make the house look more spacious. She says, "It's hard for a homeowner to see that items they use every day, such as a calendar on the refrigerator or a coffeemaker, just look like clutter to a potential buyer."