Springtime means we're coming into prime house hunting season.

After what has been for many folks a winter buried in snow, spring seems even more delightful than usual this year. You may still have snow on the ground around your house, but that should not stop you from staging your home to render home buyers silly with spring fever. Here are my tips to give your home a breath of fresh air.

If you have outdoor furniture hiding in the garage or shed, go ahead and bring it out, clean it off, arrange it, and add colorful accents. Make it easy for buyers to envision themselves kicking back in their new home, even though it's still cold outside.

Introduce the colors of spring -- pastel greens, pale yellows, 
lilac, light blues, and white. Cover your existing toss pillows 
with DIY covers in these colors. Maybe paint some lamps 
or end tables =a lighter hue. Switch your 
lampshades for white ones. Design: Ann Grafton.

If you have a front porch, make sure it is "company ready." 
Are the snow shovels, rock salt, and boots hidden? Cobwebs swept away? 
When it's time to put the fireplace to sleep for the year, 
stage it for spring. Clean it, and stack it with attractive logs, or else cover it 
completely to avoid the black hole effect. A decorative 
screen, or a large, colorful 
fan are all great choices. Botanical prints drive 
the message home as well. Photo: Maria Kellam    
.
Add some floral fabrics. Pack up the flannel sheets and 
bring in the crisp cottons. Animal prints, tapestries, and 
dark textiles might be cozy, but now's the time for a 
light and breezy look. Buying a home signifies 
a new beginning. Photo: Meredith Corp.
 

These are just some of the ways that you can welcome the new season, the best time of year to have a home on the market. Staged to make buyers swoon, you'll soon see that purchase offer. 

I write about other ways to give buyers what they want by staging your home yourself, in my eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar. Don't let prime selling season pass you by. Download today and start staging today to set your property apart from the comparables.