1.      Paint – A fresh coat of paint breathes new life into your home.  Try to go with a warm, but not too dark, earth tone that harmonizes with the room and the rest of the house.

2.      De-clutter – You are going to have to pack everything up anyway, right?  So why not start now?  Your home needs to look warm and inviting while appealing to a large variety of people.  Also, a cluttered house says there isn’t enough storage space.

3.      Clean, clean and clean – When it comes to selling your home you can’t clean enough.  You can't clean enough...buyers notice it all!  Keep your eyes open, look everywhere – see the cobwebs on the ceiling going upstairs?  See the little mildew specs in the crevice between the bathtub and the tile?  The dirty handle on the refrigerator?

4.      Trim your shrubs & get some potted flowers – This should take just a few hours.  Take a trip to Lowes or Home Depot; buy some cute cheap pots, some dirt, and flowers.  Plant in pots and put on front steps – easy and it gives people a welcoming feeling.

5.      How are your floors? – If you have outdated carpeting with hardwood floors underneath, remove the carpeting.  If you find you need to refinish the floors – it’s worth it!  Old kitchen tile?  Simply buy some cheap vinyl tile and lay it over. 

6.      Organize – Make sure all closets and storage spaces are well organized.  You want to make it seem that there is more than enough space for everything the buyer has.

7.      Give each room ONE purpose – Is it an office or a guest room?  Is it a bedroom or a changing room?  A sunroom or a dining room?  Just pick the one that makes most sense and go with it.

8.      Matching appliances – If you have a white stove and dishwasher, please buy a white refrigerator.  Yes, it is true stainless steel is the most popular these days, but a cornucopia of appliances, no matter how nice they are, looks silly.

9.      Patch holes – When you are done taking down your family portrait wall, please patch all the holes (before painting – of course).

10. Refresh dated cabinets – Old kitchen cabinets are intimidating to buyers.  Most of the time you can refrain from replacing them by simply refinishing them or painting them.  Also, don’t forget to replace the hardware.