Most home sellers probably know someone who has ‘staged’ their property for sale even if they haven’t done it themselves. Making the home look good in order to sell it is becoming more common and is certainly a way of getting more sales dollars, especially when an empty house is furnished and decorated to have the wow factor and camouflage unattractive areas. But some people overdo it, thinking that any staging (even bad) is better than no staging at all. When does staging go too far?

Most experienced agents will tell you that anything overly contrived and unreal is unlikely to convince purchasers to believe in (let alone identify with) a lifestyle and is therefore unlikely to make them feel like making an offer.

Many home sellers like to display pictures of super attractive people such as models or celebrities in their house as opposed to the "normal-looking" people who actually live there. This might seem like a good subliminal selling trick suggesting the upmarket, perfect lifestyle the current owners have and by association, the upmarket, perfect lifestyle buyers will live if they buy the house. The problem is, most buyers spot the trick and are put off by it. A better idea would be to hire some ‘good’ paintings to use in the staging of your home rather than pretending to be a cast member from "Sex and the City’ or The Bold and the Beautiful".

The smell of fresh coffee might be convincing but putting flower petals in the master bathtub or tinting the water to match the décor is another overly contrived gimmick. Buyers know you don't actually live this way and instantly feel they are being set up.

A well-staged home shouldn’t look obvious or contrived - it should look effortless and stylish as if efficient but busy people with good taste happen to live in the home.