Been very hectic around these parts, so I've been slow to post. In staying with that theme, I'm just going to touch on something that has been discussed a million times before: Staging your home.

Some of the best staging practices are free, like getting rid of clutter and rearranging your furniture. To help improve the way potential buyers view your home, you may want to consider a few of these ideas - all for under $25.

• Plants and Bowls of Fruit: These add color and warmth to a room
  
• Lighting: Replacing heavy, dark shades with lighter ones can give the room more light. Making sure your lighting fixtures aren't outdated.
  
• Artwork: Check your flea markets for these. Nothing fancy, just something to add a bit of color, design, and character to your room.

These 3 ideas are simple and cheap, and the results are pretty amazing. If you're trying to sell your home, make sure to take advantage of all of these for better results. If you have other ideas, please post them in the comments.

Here is a list of the 7 Deadly Mistakes most home-sellers make:

1. Failing to analyze why they are selling
   
2. Not preparing their home for the buyer's eye
   
3. Pricing their homes incorrectly
   
4. Selling too hard during showings
   
5. Signing a long-term listing agreement without a written performance guarantee
   
6. Making it difficult for buyers to get information on their homes
   
7. Failing to obtain a pre-approved motgage for one's next home

If you're thinking of selling your home, try your best to avoid these mistakes!