When selling your Columbia SC home, you've probably heard that staging is a good idea. Decluttering, cleaning and depersonalizing a space – what the real estate industry calls staging – is nothing new. But has anyone ever mentioned staging your refrigerator?

With many buyers purchasing the appliances you have in your home, the state of your refrigerator can be a real concern. Buyers tend to look everywhere; behind every door, and inside every cabinet and every drawer. They inspect your washer and dryer, your dishwasher and oven, and, of course, your fridge.

So just the same way you organize your closets and wipe down your washing machine for an open house, you might consider staging your refrigerator for the scrutiny of its potential new owners.

3 Steps to Staging Your Refrigerator

Step 1: Declutter.

Get rid of the magnets and notes you probably have stuck all over your fridge. Remove everything from your fridge door. Go through the contents and throw out any items that are not fresh, or essential. That jar of old jam lurking on the bottom shelf you thought you threw out last year? That might be a good item to get rid of. Same goes for that bottle of old salad dressing that looks like it might be growing mold. Toss it.

Step 2: Clean.

Empty your fridge completely and remove all the drawers. Then clean the interior from back to front and top to bottom. Defrost, if necessary. Clean out the freezer too. Yes, buyers will look there too. Remember how clean and spotless your refrigerator was when you first bought it? Get it looking like that again.

Step 3: Stock It

You need to stock your fridge with items that look great and appeal to your potential buyer. Some of the best foods you can add when staging your refrigerator are: watermelon chunks, fresh squeezed orange juice, glass bottles of milk and a bottle of champagne or fine wine.

During the process of staging your refrigerator remember that color pop counts, so you should be looking for colorful fruits, vegetables or gourmet mustard because, these pops of color will add life to the inside of one of the most important parts of your home.

If your home is near a farmer's market or a premium grocery store, you might leave items in their original containers to play up that proximity. Whatever you do, arrange it all nicely: Group similar items together, and use bins if you need to.

Yes, you'll have to buy a few new items. And no, you shouldn't eat and drink everything after your first open house or showing unless all of it is perishable.

You may never know whether staging your refrigerator did the trick to get the sale, but you'll enjoy the taste of these items during your last few meals in your newly sold home.

For more information on Columbia SC home selling tips, see our section on Columbia SC Home Selling Tips to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

Homeowners thinking about selling Columbia SC homes in the new year have a lot to consider.

2013 saw home prices rise almost back to pre-bust levels of 2006. There was some softening in pricing in the last few months of the year, but overall, sellers remain somewhat in control, providing interest rates don't get out of hand in 2014, which we don't think they will.

5 Tips for Those Selling Columbia SC Homes in 2014:

1. Get Started Now – The process, say most sellers, always takes longer than expected. So get your home inspected now; there may be unseen major repairs to address. Declutter, clean closets and shelves, store possessions and furnishings and other stuff that might keep sellers from picturing themselves in your house. Attend an open house or two to get an idea of how to stage yours. And get moving: Owners still waiting for the market to peak should beware that this real estate cycle may be shorter-lived than last.

2. Get the Right Agent – Sellers tend to lose a lot of time and money by hiring poorly. Interview several potential agents. Find a full-timer who is Web savvy and uses mobile technology, because at least 4 in 5 buyers view their homes online first. Your agent should be a proven performer in your market and be willing to walk you through all the financial aspects of your sale. The more the agent knows about schools, commutes and other local details, the better. Once you decide on an agent, accept his or her advice on pricing, marketing and negotiation.

3. Make the Most of Your Seller's Market – It's been a long time since it was truly a seller's market, but for now, it is. Don't jump at the first offer that comes along, unless it's full price. And even if it's full price, make sure the deal works for you, including timing and the buyer's financing.

4. Think About Renovations, Carefully – Newly renovated homes are usually easier sells, but not always. So is it time to remodel that outmoded kitchen? Not if you plan to sell soon. According to remodeling surveys, the average renovation project returns only about two-thirds on investment. For example, a major bathroom remodel costing $15,000 yields about $10,000 in resale value. The same goes for a major kitchen remodel. In most cases, it would be cheaper to issue credits to buyers or drop your price a few grand. Lighter jobs like new doors are more practical and return about 85 percent. But feel free to spend a bit on paint (basic colors), curb appeal and fence replacement to enhance exteriors.

5. Focus on the Market – Folks who base their decisions for selling Columbia SC homes on trends on cable news are often left wondering, "Why can't I sell at this price?" The truth is, all markets are different and all real estate is very local, and prices can vary greatly even in adjacent subdivisions. Columbia SC home prices are dictated largely by demand, land availability, foreclosures and employment. Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with market stats and at least a few recent comp sales in hopes of earning your business. Additional trend data can be found online or in local newspapers and business journals.

In Summary – Those selling Columbia SC homes in 2014 need to pay attention to trends and react accordingly. Thinking of laying carpet? Agent surveys in the past few years show homes with hardwood floors or faux wood laminate floors sell much faster. You still want to be in suburbia? Millennials don't. Many area have watched this more environmentally conscious generation flock to "mixed-use" urban districts served by trendy cafes, nightclubs, bike paths, civic events and mass transit.

For more tips on selling Columbia SC homes, check out our other articles and information at the Columbia SC home selling tips link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

Attention all sellers of Columbia SC real estate! Give us a moment to share with you exactly why pricing your Columbia SC home correctly is more critical now than ever before.

Prices are being driven by a persistently tight supply of homes for sale, and demand remains high, but over the summer, mortgage rates began increasing and unemployment remains problematic. Housing is improving, but it is not without challenges.

Buyers are desperate to find the right home at the right price. It's not uncommon these days to see multiple offers on the same Columbia SC home. Prices are being driven up by these multiple offers, however, there is a down side to these rapid price increases.

Pricing Your Columbia SC Home Correctly – How The Appraisal May Be Affected

Pricing your Columbia SC home correctly is critical because it must appraise or the sale falls apart before the ink even dries on the purchase agreement. If you over-price your home, it most likely won't appraise for your selling price, even if you do get two or three buyers bidding on the home.

When this happens, one of two things happens. Either the seller comes down on price or the buyer comes to the closing with more money, which they usually don't have.

In reality, who really wins in this situation? No one. The buyer walks away to look for another home, and you have to put your home back on the market, usually at a lower price. Once the lower appraisal comes in, you must disclose what it appraised for, and there you are, wishing you had just started off pricing your Columbia SC home correctly to start with.

We're seeing sellers over-pricing homes because there is a lack of inventory, trying to take advantage of a market condition. This tactic will usually backfire.

The real estate market in the Columbia SC is moving so fast that most buyers know what things are selling for. If you over-price your home, you're just helping your neighbor down the street sell his home.

Yes, homes are selling fast, but at the same time, pricing your Columbia SC home correctly will help you find a buyer faster. Otherwise, if you over-price your home, you'll wind up being on the "skip it, it's over-priced" list.

Pricing your Columbia SC home correctly will also help the market not wind up like we all saw before — a bunch of over-priced homes for sale and no one buying them. That's what starts the proverbial real estate bubbles.

When your home just sits on the market for weeks and months because it's over-priced, you're also giving your home a stigma that's hard to overcome. And then dropping the price to where it probably should have been to start with just makes people ask, "What's wrong with it?"

Do yourself (and everyone else) a favor. Pricing your Columbia SC home correctly is not only important, it's really a must-do thing if you really want to sell.

For continuous Columbia SC housing news, click the Columbia SC Real Estate News link to your right under our Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

If you have your Columbia SC home for sale, or are thinking of putting it up for sale soon, there are some things you can and should do to shorten the time it takes to find a buyer.

Most buyers want a 'move in ready' home, not one where they have to do a lot of work to make it livable. Before the first prospect darkens your doorstep, consider these options for making your Columbia SC home for sale one of the best on their list.

Making Your Columbia SC Home For Sale Shine

Clear the Clutter

Clear your kitchen counters of just about everything. Clean your closets by packing up little-used items like out-of-season clothes and old toys. Install closet organizers to maximize space. Put at least one-third of your furniture in storage, especially large pieces, such as entertainment centers and big televisions. Pack up family photos, knickknacks, and wall hangings to depersonalize your home. Store the items you've packed offsite or in boxes neatly arranged in your garage or basement.

Clean Up and Out

Wash your windows and if weather permits, leave them open to air out your rooms. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Clean light fixtures and baseboards, mop and wax floors, and give your stove and refrigerator a thorough cleaning.

Clean fingerprints off of light switch plates, clean inside the cabinets, and polish doorknobs. Don't forget to clean your garage. A cluttered garage is a turn-off, even if you are taking all that junk and clutter with you when you move.

Get a Pre-Sale Home Inspection

Before you put that Columbia SC home for sale sign in the yard or ad in the paper, arrange for a pre-sale home inspection. An inspector will alert you to any trouble that may be lurking that potential buyers may see. Repair items found in the inspection before ever putting your home on the market.

Get Repair Estimates

If your home inspection reveals items like your roof, or carpeting, need to be replaced or repaired, get estimates for the work. If you can't afford to make the repairs yourself, at least you can provide prospects with a list of known repairs that need to be done, and approximately how much it will cost to make the repairs. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home and the repairs.

Organize Warranties

Locate any and all warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for your furnace, heat pump, washer and dryer, dishwasher, and any other items you expect to remain with the house. Prospects will appreciate seeing these items.

Spruce up Outside Too

Stand outside your home and look at everything from a buyer's perspective. Does the paint look worn? If so, paint. Are plants and flowers dying or gone dormant? If so, replace with current flowers to make things look inviting.

Following these tips will help you with your Columbia SC home for sale.

Visit the Columbia SC Home Selling Tips section of our website to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories for even more tips.