As a seller, you need to understand that purchasing a home is an emotional process for the buyer.  A potential buyer is much more likely to purchase a well-priced home that feels right rather than a bargain home that doesn't show well.  There's nothing more important than making a great first impression on potential buyers.  Below is a list of tips to help you prepare your home so that it makes a great first impression.  Remember, a home that shows well is a home that sells well!

• Have your trees trimmed.
• Keep garage doors closed.
• Clean the gutters.
• Store toys and gardening equipment somewhere other than the front yard.
• Turn on exterior lights at night and consider accent lighting if your house is in a higher-traffic area.
• Cut back overgrowth (especially in front of windows).
• Keep the grass well-watered and mowed.
• Keep leaves out of the yard and off of the porch.
• Remove mold and mildew on the siding, roof, sidewalks and driveway.
• Pressure wash dirty driveways, decks, and patios.
• Depending on what you can afford, re-paint the following:
  - Entire front of house, front door and trim
  - Front door and trim
  - Front door
• Check steps, walkways, walls, and patios for cracks and crumbling.
• Consider adding shutters around the windows that face the street.
• Add some seasonal potted flowers or plants to your front steps or porch.

• De-Clutter, De-Clutter, De-Clutter!  If you don't need it and it doesn't add any asthetic appeal to the home, put it in storage or donate it.
• If you have too much furniture, rent a storage unit and put the excess there.
• Keep floors of closets clean and free of boxes and don't overfill closets with hanging clothes.
• Take down personal photos that can be distracting to buyers.  You want them to look at the home as their own and not be distracted by pictures of you and your friends & family.
• Hire a professional cleaning service to give your house a good scrub.  Consider having them return once a week to keep your house sparkling while your home is on the market.
• Have carpets professionally cleaned (or replace them if absolutely necessary).
• Keep kitchen countertops clear and free of clutter.
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or dish drainer.
• Clean ash out of wood-burning fireplaces.

• If you have a pet, bathe it 
• If you smoke, stop smoking in your house and consider purchasing an air purifier or ionizer.
• If you have a cat, clean the cat litter box.
• Do not burn scented candles.  Odor is one of the strongest memory triggers and a smell you love may cause a buyer to be emotionally turned off to your home.
• Refrain from cooking fish or other strong smelling foods.
• Consider dry cleaning your drapes if they are adding an odor to the home.
• Add fresh flowers to different rooms in your home.