Showing Your House - courtesy of Service Plus Realty

Selling can entail a variety of marketing strategies. Once listed, it's likely the home will be entered into the local MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and placed on the Internet. Real estate agents routinely market by mail with new-listing announcements and regular newsletters. Open houses, broker access to the home via the use of a lock box and networking with both local and out-of-town brokers are also common.
There are no universal marketing standards for real estate because marketplaces are so localized. For instance, open houses may be common in some communities but rarely used in others.
While getting your house ready to show to perspective buyers, keep a sometimes forgotten strategy in mind. Using the right light!
With the right lighting, the look of a room can turn from mediocre to sensational, making it look bigger, airier and more desirable.

The right lighting can enhance your skin tone, allow you to see what you're doing, draw attention to focal points in your décor, and make a big difference in how you feel about your home. And best of all, it's inexpensive compared to other home decorating or remodeling options.
Ambient light is a hidden source of light that washes a room with a glow. Aesthetic lighting itself can be a work of art, such as a neon sculpture. Natural light, (sunlight, candlelight and firelight) is light that moves. Quality of natural light, sunlight in particular, depends on many things such as time of day, the weather, and what season it is.
In addition to the right lighting inside, first impressions can only be made one time. Make sure the curb appeal of your house, as well as the entrance way, is in tip-top shape.
The entrance serves as the transition from outdoors to indoors and can leave an indelible impression in the mind of a potential buyer.
If the entrance is shabby, then no matter how well appointed the rest of the home, 'shabby' is what will be imprinted on the buyer's mind.
Cathy Whitlock, an interior designer in Nashville, Tenn., offers some general entryway decorating tips on the Home and Garden Television Web site -- tips that can help make your home more attractive to those picky buyers out there. They include:

Add plants. Ficus trees are good for a traditional décor; palm trees are a good fit for a contemporary décor.

Throw an area rug on the floor.

Use a chest or console table to anchor the area. Display a favorite collection or a lamp. Hang a picture or mirror above the table.

Paint a shade of yellow. It goes with everything so it's a good choice for an entryway, which flows to other rooms in the house.

Finally, make sure the area is clean and sparkling. If your entryway leads into a staircase, make sure the banister and railings are clean. Keep the area clear of the clutter that may otherwise accumulate during your everyday routines -- kids' backpacks, coats, mail, etc. Make sure the floor is always swept or vacuumed and make sure the entryway is fully lit, whether it's by a hanging fixture or a lamp.