Selling your home is quite the ordeal. Once you've found a reliable realtor and have set a schedule, you've got to open your home to strangers. More than just that, your home needs to look like their next home. That can be hard to accomplish given the fact that the average home holds over 300,000 things; from personal collections to quirky furniture, turning your vibrant home into a neutral space can feel like a serious challenge.   Fortunately, furniture slipcovers offer a quick solution to a pressing problem. Forget renting generic furniture to stage your home -- sofa slipcovers, pillow covers, and fitted mattress covers are an easy, affordable, and effective way to freshen up your home. They create a neutral environment that allows guests' imaginations to run wild with possibilities while also offering a clean, tidy look. Around 36% of sofa-buyers expect to keep their new sofa for at least five to nine years, yet constant wear and tear can make a not-that-old piece look well beyond its years. This simple appearance, especially if accompanied with bold or bright patterns, can distract and dissuade potential home-buyers.   They're also perfect for pet-friendly homes: with fitted slipcovers, the dog's favorite couch will be transformed into a brand new piece of furniture, and the cat's scratching post will look like it's never seen a claw in its life. Your guests and potential buyers will be much more focused on the space -- and what it is capable of -- than the current family's style. The need for commercial-grade vacuums and cleaning services vanishes with the concealment of that fur.   Best of all, they're functional! Visitors can sit on the couch slipcover while thinking of where they'd put the TV, or where the desk would go; after the house is sold and you're settled in your new place, you can purchase replacement slipcovers for your own home! The ease of use, low cost, and customizable options make slipcovers absolutely necessary in a staged home, and ideal in a new one.   So, buy a bunch all at once (including a few replacement slipcovers for emergencies) and sit back -- and relax -- in your newfound, reborn furniture.