So you’ve made the big decision to sell your home. You’ve cleaned out the closets, held a garage sale and given strict orders that beds are to be made every morning.

You’re all ready, right?

Hold on. How about that scratched-up end table, the dirt under the bed and the lack of a lamp in the den?

Don’t think they won’t matter. Potential buyers aren’t going to buy your end table, but they’ll see it. Everything in your home, and what isn’t there, will make up the impression they form of your house.

And we all know, a lot of homebuyers make a decision based on how a house makes them feel as well as its condition and price.

More and more home sellers are consulting professional stagers to help them move their home. The stager’s job is to work with the seller to put the property in the best possible light for potential buyers.

Michele Hess of Byron started Simply Staged Inc. (simplystagedinc.com) three years ago. She works with builders, Realtors and private sellers.

Here are some of her thoughts:

What can stagers do that home­owners cannot do?

Hess: We are trained to see the property as the potential buyer does. We know how to neutralize the space and give a clean, fresh perspective that showcases the potential of the home.

How do you start?

Hess: I start when I get out of the car by evaluating curb appeal, from the front of the house to the back fence. That first impression for buyers is most important. I look at the landscaping, maintenance of the entrance, etc. If there are small things that can be done to make the entrance more appealing, I suggest them.

How involved are the changes you suggest?

Hess: Stagers work with items like painting walls and updating things like flooring and light fixtures. If I recommend new paint, I pick the specific color, based on the architecture and style of home and the other items in the home. My aim is to neutralize the space to appeal to the masses. If the seller can’t afford to do all the things on my list, we set priorities.

Why neutralize? Maybe a purple wall looks perfect in some situations.

Hess: Right, and we sometimes leave accent features in the home. But chances are, the buyer will not have the same personal preferences as the seller, so our job is to neutralize.

Do you contract for the work done?

Hess: No. Often the seller does it himself or hires someone. I recommend painters or service people if they ask.

What are some of the must-dos for a home seller?

Hess: Cleanliness is very high on my list. The property must be Q-tip clean. Buyers want to get a home that’s been well-maintained, and cleanliness is part of that.

How about clutter and the items a normal family has in a home?

Hess: We’re staging a house for selling. That’s different that furnishing a house for living. Our job is to showcase the home rather than a family’s belongings. So we might eliminate some furniture to show off space. And we depersonalize, take family photos, mementos, etc., off the wall. We want buyers to feel at home, not as if they are your guests. We eliminate everything that might distract them, like seeing a diploma and wondering if your son went to school with their brother.

So, everything on a counter, bookcase or mantel has to go?

Hess: No, you don’t want to overdo it. You want people to be able to feel that they could form an emotional connection to the home.

Why do you get into maintenance items, like flooring?

Hess: Because you don’t want buyers coming in and creating checklists on what needs to be done. Once that list gets too long, they’re on to the next home. Remember, fewer than 10 percent of people can visualize what a home could look like, beyond what they’re able to see.

How about smells?

Hess: That can be a tough one. Odors have a powerful impact on people. If a heavy smoker was living there, you might have to repaint and change some things to get the odor out. I’ve had people say, “I only smoke in the garage,” but the smell still gets into the house.

How about introducing “homey” smells?

Hess: I tell sellers if they want, just use a vanilla scent. Some people are allergic to floral or other scents. As for baking cookies or pies, that’s not always doable, and I don’t think it’s worth the effort.

What looks are you going for, in terms of window treatments?

Hess: I want a window covering that highlights a window, not covers it. We want buyers to see the window, and a covering that is current and aesthetic in terms of looking good with the house.

Do sellers have to buy lamps, furniture, drapes, etc. for your staging presentation?

Hess: My company has a supply of furnishings, pictures for the wall, lamps, greens and things we can bring in to enhance the home. I offer them for rent so sellers don’t have to buy them.

Who hires home stagers, and what does it cost?

Hess: The majority of my clients are home sellers. Occasionally, a Realtor will pay for consultation. Cost varies, depending on what we need to do and whether we bring in furniture. I can do some homes in several hours. Depending on the stager, the cost of a consultation varies from $150 to $350.

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