Deep Clean - First impressions mean a lot. So don’t let foul smells, dirty floors, or dusty surfaces greet a potential buyer. Before listing your home (and throughout the selling process) give your home a deep clean. This means cleaning toilets, wiping down surfaces, mopping floors, cleaning rugs, and scrubbing bathrooms.

Declutter - Decluttering and organizing your space will go a long way in appealing to potential buyers. When a home is clutter-free, buyers are able to focus on the actual home instead of extra belongings and overflowing closets. Not sure what you'll want to use in your next home? Rent a storage unit and move all of the 'maybe' and 'can live without for now' items out! This goes for extra furniture as well.

Finish That "Honey-Do" List - When selling a house, you should have your handyman on speed dial. Make sure anything and everything that needs to be repaired (think: locks, hardware, leaky faucets, running toilets, cracks in the walls, broken appliances, squeaky doors, etc) has been taken care of before listing a home. Otherwise, buyers may think your home hasn’t been well taken care of, old is ok, broken is NOT, which can be a red light for many. If you know something isn't working, go ahead and make it right. If finances are an issue, at a minimum, disclose what you are aware of.

Bye-Bye Baby Pictures - You don't have to strip your home bare of all personal effects...but you want to find a balance between depersonalization and creating a warm, welcoming home. This means putting away the majority of framed photos, bulletin boards, and personal items (think: photo albums, magazines, toys, equipment, awards, etc) throughout the home. Then go back and stage areas with neutral decor and art and help your buyers envision their own lives in your home.

Dog? What Dog? - It's hard to believe that the whole world wouldn't love your furry babies...but pet smells, toys, litter boxes (and surprises in the yard) can be major turn-offs to buyers. Have an action plan ready for showings which includes making Fido (and his belongings) disappear.

Patch & Paint - It's usually not necessary to paint every wall and every room. But if you have areas that are especially bold and possibly in need of some neutral...paint is an inexpensive and easy way to bring them back to basic. Homes won't usually "not" sell because of wall colors...but they will sell faster and for more money when buyers don't immediately see a long "must paint / replace / repair" list as they walk through.

Add Lighting - Replace old bulbs, add lamps, remove bulky window coverings, open blinds, move furniture that blocks windows...anything necessary to make your home as bright and full of light as possible. Light and airy rooms sell. Dark and cluttered rooms do not.

Lock It Up - Secure valuable belongings, jewelry, firearms, medication, and anything else that could be tempting to a sticky-fingered buyer or a curious kid.