Here are some general tips:

• Clean, clean, clean. You want buyers to believe your home has been well cared for over the years. Also, a dirty home will cause buyers to look for other problems.
  
  
• Fix anything that’s broken. A buyer will make a much lower offer if there are obvious flaws. Take care of it now, or you’ll probably have to fix it later.
  
  
• Take out the clutter. Empty out overflowing cupboards and closets. It makes a buyer think they’re stuff will never fit. Throw away what you can and sell or store the rest. A buyer wants to envision they’re belongings in this home.
  
  
• Let the air and light in. Get rid of odors unless they’re flowers or freshly baked cookies or bread. Raise the shades, open the blinds. Well lit rooms seem larger and more inviting. Put higher watt bulbs in your lamps, if possible. Create an inviting atmosphere and alluring smell.
  
  
• Secure pets away from the house when buyers visit. Many people are afraid of and/or allergic to pets. You don’t want to distract them from the purpose at hand. That is to fall in love with your home. The same is true with children. They may be cute, but they’re a distraction. I love kids, I have two of my own. But take them for a walk to the park or visit a neighbor during show times.
  
  
• Paint – the least-expensive home improvement. Nothing will raise the value of your home as quick and simply as a can of paint. Of course, you need to stick to neutral colors, but paint can make a dingy room sparkle.
  
  
• Keep the home comfortable. Again, you don’t want to distract buyers by having a cold or over-heated home. Set the temperature to a comfortable level and keep it there during the time the home is on the market. You never know when the next potential buyer wants to drop by.
  
  
• Finally, let me do my job. It sounds funny but if you brag about your kids, people discount it because they’re yours. If I brag about your kids, they believe it. Between the home and my sales acumen, we’ll get the job done for you with the least amount of time and trouble.