If you're selling your home or investment house, take advantage of home staging trends. Here are eleven key points about staged homes.

1. Staged Homes Sell in Less Time

Surveys on the effects of home staging range from stating that home sell for 30 percent faster to the Christian Science Monitor's statistic that staged homes sell twice as fast. Last year, during the hot seller's market, The National Association of Realtors found that staged homes sold in 13.9 days as opposed to 31 for non-staged homes. Imagine what the effect will be during a buyer's market.

2. Staged Homes Sell for More Money

Homes that sit on the market usually get lower offers because home shoppers think that there's something wrong with the house and that the desperate home seller is an easy mark for a low offer. Research proves that staged homes sell for more. The NAR statistics indicated that staged homes sold for an average of 6.9 to 10% over listing price.

3. Staged Exteriors Entice Viewing

When homes shoppers first pull up in front of a home for sale, they make up their minds in SECONDS whether to get out of their comfortable vehicle or drive on. A manicured front yard with staging additions like flowers in colorful pots near the front door and a bench to sit makes buyers want to see what's inside. Entice your buyers to come in, not drive on.

4. Staged Entryways Affect Buyer's Decision

Once they cross the threshold, home buyers know within 15 seconds whether they like the home or not. You must captivate your buyers right away with a setting staged for your target buyer. Entice your buyers to take a good look, not hurry through.

5. Staged Living Rooms Make Buyers Feel at Home

Beyond the usual deep cleaning and decluttering, staging your living room with suggestions of activities gives buyers ideas like how it will feel to entertain in the space. Spur imagination with props like a cocktail tray set out. Entice your buyers to move in, not move on to the next home.

6. Staged Kitchens Sell Houses

Because the kitchen ranks paramount in home shoppers list of requirements, spend extra time staging the space. Remove all appliances on the counter and dress the space with flowers and bowls of fruit. Buyers pay a premium for kitchens that are ready to move in and not ready to work on.

7. Staged Homes Tell Buyers that Your Home Is Loved

Buyers desire a well-maintained home. Homes that show well speak to the buyers that you care enough to keep on routine maintenance.

8. Staged Homes Attract Agents

It's a fact that real estate agents love staged homes, too. Get agents to keep your home on the top of their "must show" list. Agents show staged homes even when they fall short or exceed the buyers wish list because savvy agents know buyers choose homes based on their emotions and not their "must have" lists.

9. Staged Homes Get More Advertising

Your agent and even other agents will want to show your home and they will advertise it more than an ordinary home just to get the phone ringing. Benefit from all the extra exposure at no extra cost to you.

9. Staged Homes Appraise for Top Dollar

Once you sell your home, you need the appraisal to come in high enough to cover your buyer's mortgage. Make sure you keep your home staged for the all important date--Appraisal Day. Too many home sales fall through just because the appraised value didn't meet the sales price.

10. Staged Homes Keep Buyers on Track

When you create a buyers' "Dream Home," they can't wait to move in. Use staging magic to avoid "buyer's remorse." Motivated buyers make sure they get all their paperwork in on time and won't jeopardize their purchase.

11. Staged Homes Help Home Sellers Move

Besides selling your home, the act of staging helps you get rid of clutter, pare down your furnishings to the best--those worth moving, and gets you organized to move on to your next home, hopefully your "dream home!"