If you're getting ready to list your home for sale, your real estate agent may suggest that you spend some time staging the house before you schedule any showings or open house events. If you're not familiar with the process, it can seem to be an expensive proposition. The good news is that you can stage your home without having to stretch your budget. Here are a few tips to help you stage the house without tapping out your savings.

Start With Clearing Clutter

You may not realize how much clutter you have in your home until you start sorting through things to prepare for a sale. Look at the house one room at a time, but do it from a buyer's perspective. Consider how open and organized each room looks. If necessary, remove a piece or two of furniture from each room. Sometimes, that makes all the difference in making the room seem larger.

That doesn't mean you have to get rid of all of that furniture, though. This is a good time to rent a storage unit, because it gives you somewhere to keep everything until you're ready to move. While you're at it, clean out all of your closets. Pack up and store any clothes you won't wear between now and your move. Do the same thing in the kitchen. Toss out or donate anything in the pantry that will spoil before the move. Keep in mind that potential buyers will look everywhere - in every drawer, closet and cabinet. Clean out and organize accordingly.

Once you've removed all of the clutter, it's time for a detailed and thorough cleaning. You can hire a cleaning service or you can clean the house yourself. Just make sure you get all of the nooks and crannies of the house, including inside light fixtures and in the back corners of the closets. Shampoo the carpets and steam clean your tile or linoleum floors.

Prep The Kitchen Affordably

The kitchen is a popular room in every house, which makes it one of the most heavily scrutinized. You can prep the room affordably, though.  Consider re-grouting your existing tile floors and counter tops. Sometimes, fresh grout makes all the difference in the way that older counters look. In addition, it's an affordable face-lift for the kitchen. If you want to give your kitchen the appearance of granite but can't afford the renovation, cover the counters with granite tile. It looks just as good but is cheaper than full-slab granite.

You can also give your cupboard doors a fresh look by coating them with fresh stain. Just sand them first so that the stain will absorb. Install new drawer pulls and cabinet handles if you really want to transform the space.

Brighten Up the Bathroom

Bathrooms are another space that you shouldn't overlook when you're staging. That doesn't mean you have to invest hundreds, though. If your bathroom is plagued by peeling wallpaper, it's time to get rid of it. It's usually easiest if you find a steamer rental to help break it free. Then, consider just painting the walls with a mildew-resistant, moisture-tolerant paint. This will help the bathroom look great without needing a lot of long-term maintenance. If you do have some cash to put into the bathroom, you may find that a brand new toilet and a new vanity will help to brighten up the space.

As you can see, it's easy to prepare your home for a sale without having to invest thousands in the services of a staging consultant. Talk with your real estate agent today about which rooms he or she feels need the most attention. That way you can focus your efforts as effectively as possible.