1. Touch up interior and exterior paint. Especially around the front entrance. This is the first thing your potential buyer is going to see when looking at your house. Make sure the front door & storm doors are in good condition and touch up paint in the foyer area. Place a welcome mat outside the front door and a few potted planters with flowers.

2. Depending on the season put down fresh mulch around the plantings. Make sure the grass is kept trimmed and fertilized. These things help your "curb" appeal which is important since the exterior of your home will be e-mailed via MLS pictures to potential buyers.

3. Touch up the paint near stairwells since this is generally a high traffic area for scuffs among houses. Also, have a professional clean the carpets near the time you will start showings. Many buyers spend a lot of time viewing new construction homes, so in today's market it's important to keep all re-sale homes tidy and clean.

4. Clean the windows. What I've found works best on windows is dishwasher detergent. Mix this in a bucket with warm water and use a squeegee to clean. This will leave your windows gleaming with a streak-free shine!

5. Remove family pictures from around the house. Many buyers want to visualize their own family in the house and pictures can be distracting. Too many pictures on the walls can be overwhelming, and doesn't allow the buyer to visualize how they will decorate.

6. Use air freshners. Although your home does not have any odors buyers can be stimulated by smell. Ever heard the addage "Bake cookies before showings"? In today's day and age, and the amount of showings you will have, no one has time for that. Purchase a couple of air freshners with a vanilla scent. Vanilla has been tested to provide a positive response from males and females. A couple (not too many) air freshners will give buyers the feeling of cleanliness and a neutral postive scent the minute they walk through your door.

7. Clean up those showers. Even with shower curtains, many buyers who are interested pull back the shower curtain and check water pressure. Make sure those showers are clean of rust and residue. CLR works wonders on showers. Also, many showers (not porcelin) can be waxed, leaving you with a shiny, new looking shower, that helps defend against build-up and residue

8. Organize the basement and garage. Many of us use these spaces as storage, however a buyer wants to see if they could finish the basement or how their cars would fit in the garage. If these areas are organized and packed away a buyer will know that you are motivated to move and the process would be easier.

9. Keep all of the lights on for showings (if possible), and ask the buyers to take off their shoes upon entering. This helps give the buyer the impression that, although you're moving, you care about your home and it's condition. It also helps buyers navigate through the house when all of the lights are on.

10. Turn on music during showings, but no TV! A light jazz, or classical music (no lyrics please, or a lot of radio commercials) can really set a vibe for potential homebuyers. Not too loud, just an accent noise throughout the house. This helps comfort buyers as they are walking through your house.

If you'd like a complimentary real estate consultation on the sale of your home Simply email me at: Sarah@SarahLeeBond.com