Get Ready to Sell
A house that "shines" on the surface will sell faster than its run-down neighbor, even if both are structurally sound. REALTOR® experience also shows that a  "polished and presentable" home attracts more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price.
In addition, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-maintained home because if what they can see is well-kept, what they can't see has likely been maintained as well.
When preparing your home for sale, consider:
- How much should you spend?
- The exterior: "The first impression"
- Interior preparation
1. How much should I spend?
When preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed with a new roof, but they probably won't give you enough extra cash to cover it unless it's absolutely necessary to replace it because it's in very bad condition—in which case, I recommend it. There's a big difference between making minor, low-cost "touch-ups" and "finishes" to your home, such as putting new knobs on the cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and undertaking extensive and expensive renovations, such as installing a new kitchen. Your REALTOR®, who is familiar with buyer expectations in your neighborhood, can advise you specifically on the improvements that should be made.  Don't hesitate to ask for advice.  If your home DOES NEED updates like a new kitchen, repaired floors, and bathrooms, I definitely recommend them, but you'll have to be careful with your spending so you can recoup your investment and justify the asking price. These updates can help you sell your home faster than having old, outdated features.
2. The "external appeal"
Making your home's exterior attractive for sale is probably the most important step you can take. If potential buyers can't walk through the front door, you can't make them buy. If they don't like what they see when they drive up, you lose a potential buyer. So, take the time to get unbiased opinions on what needs to be fixed, modified, or removed.
- Keep the lawn mowed, cut, and watered regularly.
- Trim garden edges, weed lawns and shrubs, and prune trees regularly
- Check foundations, steps, walkways, walls, and patios for cracks in the concrete and crumbling.
- Inspection of doors and windows for peeling paint
- Cleaning and aligning roof gutters
- Chimney inspection and cleaning
- Repair and replacement of loose or damaged roof tiles
- Repair and repainting of loose siding and caulking
- During the spring and summer months, consider adding some shrubs and seasonal plants, perhaps in pots, near your main entrance.
- Re-sealing an asphalt/concrete road
- Keeping your garage/carport door closed
- Store old and battered campers/RVs, motorcycles, and large electric toys for teenagers elsewhere while the house is on the market.
- Applying a new coat of paint to the front door and fixing the damage that is visible at first glance
3. Preparing the interior
Once you have the "First Impression" exterior details sorted, it's time to go inside and prepare the interior as well. Again, get some unbiased opinions on what should be changed, what should be removed and stored, and what should be emphasized. You have potential buyers interested if you have them inside looking around...  don't lose them now.
- Give each room in the house a thorough cleaning and eliminate all clutter. This will only make your house look bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with cramped rooms have rented out garages and moved half their furniture, creating a sleeker and more spacious look.
- Hiring a professional cleaning service once every few weeks while the house is on the market can be a good investment for homeowners who are busy elsewhere.
- Remove items you use less frequently, even those you use daily, from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyway, holding a garage sale now is a great idea.
- If necessary, repaint worn, dirty, or brightly colored walls with a neutral paint color, such as white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
- Check for cracks, leaks, and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
- Repair of cracks, holes or damage in plaster, drywall, wallpaper, paint and tiles.
- Replacing broken or cracked glass, moldings, and other woodwork.
- Inspection and repair of plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.
- Repair of leaky water taps and shower heads.
- Purchase new sets of eye-catching bathroom towels, which will only be taken out and put back when potential buyers are on their way to view your home.
- Upgrading a kitchen that needs a major makeover by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
