Home sellers who wish to market their property in development neighborhoods face tough challenges. All the houses look similar. All the houses sell for amounts in the same price range. The market -- whether its a hot sellers market or a cool buyers market -- largely determines the price, purchase terms, and length of time to sell.

How do you make your home stand out from the crowd? How can you turn your property into a "hot" sale, even if the markets lukewarm? Remember the "Three Ms" and apply these Design Psychology strategies as you stage your home for sale:

1. Magnetism. Because most buyers won't even get out of their car unless a home shows promise, create an exciting exterior that draws prospective buyers to your home. Place an interesting focal point in your front yard, such as a water fountain, a large urn, or a beautiful tree. Enhance your walkway with enticing plants or light fixtures that clearly mark the path to the front door. Use color psychology to either paint your front door or its framework a happy, inviting color, such as Sherwin William's Torchlight (golden wheat) or Rose Tan.

2. Mystery. Most home searchers only spend three to four minutes looking at the average home. Enchant with mystery as soon as the prospects enter your home. Make the buyer take a second look by using Design Psychology lighting tricks. Place a palm tree so that it partially blocks the view of the hallway. Uplight the palm tree with a canister light that casts captivating shadows on the walls and ceiling.

3. Memory. Home shoppers look at many houses in a row. Your goal is to get the buyers to remember your home above all others. Design psychology can help you do this. Think about your buyers dream: they want a lifestyle --not just a house. Make your buyers believe that if they choose your home, they will have the privilege and right to take a nap in that "fantastic garden hammock," read a great book in your private reading nook, or cook a delicious meal in your gourmet kitchen.

Turn heads with your enticing home. Turn viewers into buyers. Turn your typical development home into a buyers dream home using home staging methods that create a lifestyle delight.

Copyright 2005 Jeanette J. Fisher All rights reserved.

Jeanette Joy Fisher

Jeanette Fisher, author of over ten books, including university textbooks and encyclopedia articles on color psychology, has researched the effects of the environment on emotions for over 15 years. Jeanette has appeared on internationally syndicated radio and television and teaches Design Psychology and real estate investing.

She offers free information on interior design, real estate investing, and mortgage credit help from her websites. Jeanette Fisher's books, available from her websites and from Amazon, help real estate investors, home sellers, and home makers. To find out the four steps for beginning real estate investors, five ways to use interior design for home staging, or how to makeover your home for joy, visit Jeanette Fisher.com. And while there, don't forget to subscribe to her free newsletters.

Jeanette has so many websites because her name can be spelled so many ways.