But first, you must learn to look at your home through the eyes of the buyer.

Following are some tips to help you improve your home's appeal to potential buyers.  Most are low-cost or no-cost improvements that will increase the likelihood of a quicker sale and a better price:

1.  Open the draperies, pull up the shades and let in the sunlight.

2.  Create a positive mood.  Turn on all lights, day or night.  Open the curtains during the day.

3.  Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly...in its best light. 

4.  Remove clutter from all rooms to visually enlarge them.

5.  Create the illusion of spaciousness.

6.  If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.

7.  Keep your home dusted and vacuumed at all times.

8.  Have a family emergency "game plan" to get the home in order quickly, if necessary.

9.  Air out your home 30 minutes before the showing, if possible.

10.Lightly spray your home with air freshener so it has a chance to diffuse and air before the prospective buyer arrives.

11.Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before the showing and place it in an out-of-the-way place in the kitchen.

12.Create a master "suite" effect in your decorating.

13.Make sure the beds are made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean.

14.Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.

15.Keep your bathrooms spotlessly clean.  Wipe down the shower after each use.

16.Do not leave towels around and wipe down the shower areas after each use.

17.Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps for showings

18.Re-caulk if the caulking is not sparkling white!

19.Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand dining table!

20.Keep the kitchen sparkling clean.  Make sure the sink and faucets are spot free.  Also, remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stovetops, walls, etc.

21.Expand your counter space by removing clutter and small appliances.

22.Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.

23.Shampoo all carpets.

24.If the carpet does not clean up well, you should REPLACE IT!

25.Improve traffic flow through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness by removing unnecessary furniture, knick knacks, hobby items, children's items, etc., but try to avoid creating a "sterile-looking" environment.

26.Clean rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean in the winter.

27.If you have numerous family photos, put them away until your home is under contract. It will be much easier for a prospective buyer to visualize his/her family in your home if not bombarded with "your" family's memories.

28.Remove all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and storage area (if you have one).  Rent a storage area for these items or have a yard sale.

29.Straighten, tidy, and remove unnecessary items from all closets.  Put items in storage or invest in under-the-bed storage.

30.Make sure the front doorbell is working!

31.invest in a new doormat.

32.Make sure the front door, storm door, screen door, etc. open and close easily!

33.Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc., and by removing all unnecessary clutter.

34.Regardless of season, tackle spring cleaning.  Clean everything in your home from top to bottom.....from the attic to the basement!

35.Wash all windows, inside and out.

36.Make sure curtains are fresh, clean, and attractive.

37.Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers to brighten the home.

38.Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.

39.Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps.

40.De-personalize teenager's rooms and decorate in a neutral temperament.

41.Clean or paint the basement walls and floors.

42.Paint all inside walls with neutral paint.  Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright or dark walls.  Painting will brighten the home and make it look bigger.

43.Repair or replace all doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens that don't open easily.

44.Repair or replace loose banisters and handrails.

45.Repair or replace any broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs.

46.Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.

47.If the basement shows any signs of water or structural damage, it may be necessary to obtain a structural engineer's report.

48.Replace all toilet bowls which have stains you cannot remove.

49.Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.

50.Replace washers in faucets and remove rust stains from basins as needed.

51.Water and prune all plants.

52.Use plants in transitional areas of your home between inside and out.

53.Either get rid of dying plants or keep them out of sight.

54.Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.

55.Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see, such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic, basement, etc.

56.Close all other closet doors and cabinets.

57.Make the most of your attic's potential.

58.Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it out and decorating, if possible.

59.Add visual appeal to stairways, especially in unfinished stairways to the basement.

60.Keep the yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered at all times!

61.Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash, etc. from the yard.

62.Prune Trees and shrubs.

63.Weed lawn and gardens.

64.Dress up the yard, walkways, and patio with flowering plants.

65.Put all hoses and garden equipment neatly out of sight.

66.Clean or paint outdoor furniture as necessary.

67.Stack firewood neatly or keep out of sight.

68.Paint or repair the mailbox or replace it, ailboxes should be evaluated with a critical eye.

69.Make all those minor repairs to the exterior.

70.Keep porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house uncluttered, swept and in good condition.

71.Paint all entrance doors as needed.

72.Make sure shades and awnings are in good condition.  Replace or remove them if the color has faded.  

73.Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.

74.Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc.

75.Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting systems.

76.Take pictures of your flowering, landscaping now, if you are planning to sell your home after the blooms have faded.  Display these photos in your home.

77.Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mailboxes, address numbers, etc.).

78.Clean, repair and paint all gutters and downspouts.

79.Make sure all roof shingles or tiles are secured or replaced.  If the roof leaks--fix it!

80.Make sure the garage door opens easily.  Fix and paint it garage door, if necessary.

81.Paint chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.

82.Consider painting your home's exterior if the paint is faded, chipping or peeling.  It can really make the difference between "turning on" the buyer and sending up a red flag about the condition of the home.

SOME FINAL THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR HOME SELL QUICKLY!

83.Arrive at an equitable asking price using an appraisal or a comparative market analysis (CMA).

84.Don't be afraid to accept the first offer.

85.Never volunteer information.

86.Obtain a floor plan of your home, if possible.

87.Assemble house records for buyer perusal.

88.Provide a map of the area and highlight special interest items.

89.Only consider written offers by lender-prequalified buyers.

90.Enlist the services of a professional marketing agent, such as Mike Garrett with The Realty Group, to market your home by utilizing the Internet to it's fullest capabilities!