Home sellers who wish to market their property in development neighborhoods face tough challenges. All the houses look similar. All the houses sell for amounts in the same price range. The market -- whether it’s a hot sellers’ market or a cool buyers’ market -- largely determines the price, purchase terms, and length of time to sell.

How do you make your home stand out from the crowd? How can you turn your property into a "hot" sale, even if the market’s lukewarm? Remember the "Three M’s" and apply these Design Psychology strategies as you stage your home for sale:

1. Magnetism. Because most buyers won't even get out of their car unless a home shows promise, create an exciting exterior that draws prospective buyers to your home. Place an interesting focal point in your front yard, such as a water fountain, a large urn, or a beautiful tree. Enhance your walkway with enticing plants or light fixtures that clearly mark the path to the front door. Use color psychology to either paint your front door or its framework a happy, inviting color, such as Sherwin William's Torchlight (golden wheat) or Rose Tan.

2. Mystery. Most home searchers only spend three to four minutes looking at the average home. Enchant with mystery as soon as the prospects enter your home. Make the buyer take a second look by using Design Psychology lighting tricks. Place a palm tree so that it partially blocks the view of the hallway. Uplight the palm tree with a canister light that casts captivating shadows on the walls and ceiling.

3. Memory. Home shoppers look at many houses in a row. Your goal is to get the buyers to remember your home above all others. Design psychology can help you do this. Think about your buyers’ dream: they want a lifestyle --not just a house. Make your buyers believe that if they choose your home, they will have the privilege and right to take a nap in that "fantastic garden hammock," read a great book in your private reading nook, or cook a delicious meal in your gourmet kitchen.

Turn heads with your enticing home. Turn viewers into buyers. Turn your typical tract house into a buyers’ dream home using home staging methods that create a lifestyle delight.

Copyright (c) 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

About the Author: Jeanette Fisher, author of Joy to the Home Journal, Sell Your Home for Top Dollar--FAST, and Home Staging for Top-Dollar Sales, teaches design psychology college courses and professional real estate investing seminars. For home selling tips see http://www.sellfast.info For home staging strategies see http://www.homestaging.us