Cleaning: Your home should be as clean as it has ever been. Sanitize and deodorize. If it won’t come clean, paint, repair or replace it. Keep in mind that a clean smelling house creates a positive image in the buyer’s mind. Be aware of any odors from cooking, cigarettes, pets, etc. – they may have adverse effects on potential buyers while your home is on the market. Consider removing your pets before showing your home.

Neutralize: You have personalized your home for your family. This may seem self-evident, but don’t limit the marketability of your home to only those who happen to share your tastes. Make it as neutral as possible to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Some colors, patterns and fabrics may need to be removed or replaced.

Lighten Up: Arrange shades or drapes to give the maximum amount of light to the interior rooms. Don’t forget to clean windows and replace burned out, or low wattage light bulbs, for a brighter effect. Light colors add cheer to dark rooms.

Staging: You may want to consider stating your home, so your home can be seen at its best. The stager will help by punching up focal points, adding touches of color through flowers or plants, and/or removing or relocating furniture that is wrong or too big for the space.

Leave it to the agent: Buyers will ask their agents many questions when being shown through a home. Most buyers prefer to do this privately. Ideally, showings should proceed without your presence. The buyer will feel more relaxed and less pressured. If you are present, do not discuss terms, price or even condition with prospects. Your Real Estate agent will handle these details.

House History – It is a clever idea to furnish your Real Estate agent with an accurate utility history, as well as any information on recent improvements, additions or major repairs.

First Impressions – Some homes have been sold, and others rejected, based solely on “curb appeal.” The grounds should be properly maintained throughout the summer and winter. Have the lawn mowed and raked, shrubs trimmed, driveway and sidewalks swept (or shoveled in the winter), and all other debris removed from the premises. Check for loose or missing shingles. Clean out gutters and down spouts. All doors and windows should be in good working order. Clean and paint the exterior if it is necessary.

De-Clutter / Organize – Remove, remove, remove! Sell it, store it (elsewhere) or when in doubt, throw it out.

• Clear out storage rooms and organize garages.
• Pack and store away unused items.
• Sweep and wash the garage and storeroom floors.
• Clear clutter and arrange furniture to give rooms a more spacious feel.
• Now, before your home is officially listed, is the time for a garage sale.

Repairs – Get the home inspected and address any necessary repairs now before it becomes an issue during negotiations. At the same time, you should also check with your town to ensure there are no open permits on your home.

• Paint or touch up as necessary. Buyers often overestimate what items will cost to be fixed.
• Remember, if you think it is too much work, so will most buyers!

Remove & Replace - Remove & replace items that you do not want to include in the sale of your home. For instance, if the dining room chandelier is a family heirloom, take it down and replace it with one that can be included in the sale. If a Buyer sees it, they will want it.

Curb Appeal:

• Make sure your lawn is manicured. Fill in bare spots in your lawn with grass seed and eliminate as many weeds as possible.
• Run the edger along the driveway and sidewalks for a clean line, and keep the driveway and walkways swept or hosed clean.
• Trim all shrubbery, remove dead branches from trees, and remove/replace any old or dying bushes or flowers.
• Thoroughly clean all your outdoor furniture and touch up paint where needed. Dress your patios/decks up with some fresh flowers now that they are clean and inviting.
• Keep your front entryway super clean and freshly painted. This includes the front porch, pillars, stairs, and door. Once it is clean and painted, dress up the front door with a welcoming wreath or a new door knocker. A potted plant or two also dresses up the entry and makes a great first impression.
• Check that house numbers, mailbox and exterior lighting are all in good condition.
• Thoroughly clean all windows and screens, and re-caulk or repaint where necessary.
• Stand back at the street and take a good hard critical look at your property. Do the roof, gutters, downspouts, siding, and chimney look good? Would a good cleaning do them wonders? Are repairs in order? Get the cleaning, repainting, repointing and repairs done. 

Garage:

• If you're a pack rat, get a dumpster and get rid of all the old junk taking up space in your garage. Buyers need to see that their cars will fit in the space. If you can't part with the stuff, then rent a storage unit for a few months while your home is for sale and take everything there that you don't need right now.
• Thoroughly clean the walls, shelves and floor, and repaint where necessary. It's not difficult or expensive but having a freshly painted garage floor leaves an amazing impression.
• Ensure the garage door opener is working properly and put some WD40 on a squeaky door. Oh, and make sure the garage door has been thoroughly cleaned and windows washed.

Kitchen:

• Determine whether you really need that blender, canisters, rooster, and all those other things that clutter up your countertops sitting out. Put them away or pack them away. You now have much more usable counterspace and buyers will notice.
• Sinks, appliances and counter tops should sparkle! They should also be in good working order. Fix any faucet leaks and replace any damaged appliance knobs.
• If your cabinets are outdated, new hardware may make them look 100-times better. The big-box home stores have a broad selection of affordable cabinet knobs. For a small amount of money, you can add an “updated” look to your tired old cabinets.
• If you have ceramic tile, as unpleasant as this is, thoroughly scrub all the grout, or stain the grout if it is beyond cleaning. Often Soft Scrub used with a stiff brush produces satisfactory results. Professional cleaning may be in order.

Bathrooms:

• Thoroughly clean mirrors, glass, chrome and porcelain surfaces. If you have grout, then scrub away.
• Replace shower curtain and bathroom rug with something fresh and tasteful.
• Fix any faucet leaks or drips.
• Check the caulking around the tub and shower and replace with fresh caulking where necessary. Any caulking with mold on it must go.

Closets:

• Pack away everything that you are not going to need for the next few months. Neatly store in boxes in the basement or rent a storage facility if you don't have a basement or have a lot of clutter. Remember that closets are never big enough, and the least number of items that are taking up space, the larger your closets look.
• Organize your clothes and shoes neatly on bars and racks. The more organized and clean and better!
• Doors and drawers should open and close easily. Make sure all tracks are clean and free of obstacles, and any squeaks are oiled.

Overall:

• Check all the basics around the house . . . all doors, windows and cabinets . . . to make sure they don't stick, squeak or are loose, and that all the hardware is in good condition.
• A Fresh Coat of Paint Goes a Long Way – Painting is one of the best things you can do to prepare your home for sale. Don’t be afraid to use color. While neutrals are the safe route to go, nice flat colors and accent walls give a home character. Gray has becoming an increasingly popular trend as well. Apply fresh paint where needed. If a room needs re-painting, use neutral-toned paint to brighten up the space.
• Carpets, draperies, and furniture should all be professionally cleaned and looking their best.
• Replace all burned out light bulbs.
• Clean the fireplace and remove smoke stains from the wall and mantle.
• Clean your furnace and water heater and replace furnace filters as needed. All buyers are looking at these things and are impressed by a home that shows diligent care and maintenance.
• Does your home smell pleasant? Place diffusers or air fresheners with a pleasant and mild scent around your home. The adage of enticing buyers with the smell of 'fresh baked pies' is a good one. Placing some cinnamon or other sweet spices on a piece of aluminum foil and warming them in the oven creates a pleasant smell too.
• If you have a nice stereo system in your house, show it off. Play classical or jazz music (you can even get 'home staging' music CD's) at a low volume to create a pleasant ambiance and unique showing experience.