Cleaning before guests arrive is customary—but when there’s a “for sale” sign outside, the stakes feel higher. Homeowners aren’t just aiming for clean; they want their space to look worth buying. Staging helps highlight a home’s best features and can speed up a sale. Even if you’re not hiring a stager or listing your home, applying a few staging tricks can still make a big impact—especially if you’re hosting.

Start by addressing clutter. “Family photos, clunky heirlooms, and even eccentric or worn-out decor can take away from a home’s potential in a buyer’s eyes,” says Amanda Wiss, founder of New York City-based Urban Staging . Still, it’s not always obvious what should stay or go. To help, pro stagers reveal seven items homeowners should always hide to reduce visual clutter. Want Y

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