Can’t sell your home? You might want to consider home staging, a trend that has really caught on in the US and is being offered here now by interior designer Patrina Carey.With so many homes on the market in Bermuda, Ms Carey said staging is almost becoming essential - and she is surprised more homeowners and realtors aren’t taking advantage of it.She said sellers should at least take some basic steps to declutter and tidy up before a showing or having photos taken of their properties.Mr Carey, a certified professional home stager, and owner of Carey’s Visual Designs, said she has often seen photos of homes for sale where there is clutter everywhere and the occupants personal items are in view.“I feel staging now is a necessity not a luxury,” Ms Carey said, adding that it’s important to “emphasise the best features of your home, and set your home apart from the competition.”She said staging can be a cost-effective way of helping potential buyers to remember something positive about the house after they leave and be able to envision how they could live in the house.And Ms Carey said US studies have show staged homes sell faster and for higher prices than non-staged homes do; and homes that appear to be move-in-ready are more likely to sell quickly.She is hoping to compile statistics locally and has been in touch with local realtors about her services.“The key thing in staging is to declutter, make sure repairs are done and find the best focal point of the space and to depersonalise it,” she said.“The entrance to your home should be immaculate. A potential buyer should open the door to a beautiful, soothing, inviting and neutralised space.”Ms Carey said anything from dated light fixtures to bold wall colours can put off potential buyers.She said her company will first visit a home and compiles a detailed report with its recommendations. She will then redesign and declutter rooms.The total cost of staging can cost around $350 and up depending on the number of rooms and level of decluttering and redesign required.Ms Carey opened her 129 Front Street showroom (in the old Creative Interiors building) last Christmas, with the idea of bringing affordable interior design services to Bermudians.She offers everything from room makeovers to full redesigns for around $350 a room, not including furnishings.She specialises in all types of decor from traditional to contemporary.Useful website: www.careysvisualdesign.com