QUICK TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

1. FOCUS ON THE FRONT DOOR- If your door is looking dated, faded or dirty then you better clean it up! The quickest and cheapest way to freshen a facade, is paint. Choose a color that offers a good contrast with the rest of the house, and will make the entry "POP". Install a new kick-plate along the bottom, change out the hardware/update it with oiled bronze spray paint, oil the lock & hinges (you could lose a showing if the lock sticks and an agent can't get in), check the weather-stripping and clean the storm door. Check out this awesome blog post on how to paint a door!
2. CLEAN THE WINDOWS- Make your house sparkle from the street! Give the all the windows in your house a good cleaning inside and out, make sure you have all the screens and that each window raises and lowers.
3. CLEAN THE GUTTERS- People really do notice if this isn't done. If they are really full of debris and heavy rains occur it is possible pooling water can cause leaking in the basement, erosion in the yard, additional foundation settling and mosquitoes to breed. Can you imagine going to look at a house and being swarmed by biting insects on the way to the front door?
4. LANDSCAPE- Landscaping can really increase a home's curb appeal and set it apart from all the rest. You can start by watering the lawn, mowing the grass and edging the yard. A neat and tidy appearance is first and foremost. Then, I would try and soften things up a bit by adding seasonal flowers or ornamental grasses. You don't have to go crazy, a little landscaping goes a long way. Still unsure what to do? HIRE SOMEONE.
5. CLEAN THE HOUSE- I always suggest hiring a professional who is experienced in deep cleaning for your initial BIG SWEEP. It may cost a couple hundred dollars, but it is well worth it. Professional cleaners have an organized way of doing things that make them faster, better and less likely to miss a spot. After that, then follow a cleaning schedule to keep things from getting overwhelming. Try to stay away from the harsh smell of bleach, or give it enough time for the smell to wear off before allowing your house to be shown. A strong smell of bleach can make a buyer feel like you may be hiding something.
6. RE-CAULK THE TUB-Sometimes, no matter how much you scrub the shower that black mildew won't come off. Many times, it is almost as easy to just take out the old caulk, and redo it. 
7. DE-CLUTTER- You don't want to strip the house bare, but you also want the buyer to be able to enjoy the house without the distractions of your STUFF. Clean out the pantry, cabinets and closets, keep only what you need. The 'lived in look' is awesome, but pack rat is not! There is a fine line. Too much de-cluttering and the house could come off cold and not lived in (not loved). Not enough de-cluttering, and a buyer might feel suffocated. A buyer should get a feeling of roominess, and be able to see the potential for their OWN stuff to fit there. 
8. RE-ARRANGE FURNITURE- This is an often missed step when people stage their own house to sell. Go room by room and look at the furniture. Are there too many pieces in there? Is there a clear and comfortable path through the room? Is your couch in front of the fireplace? Are the furniture pieces you have in that room too BIG for the space? One of the biggest mistakes I see sellers make is cramming their bedrooms with a brand spanking new 5 piece bedroom set. If your house is not big enough to hold that style of furniture, your rooms will look really small.
9. TAKE PICTURES- Since almost 90 percent of homes are found on the internet, it is very important to look at your home through a camera lens. When you feel like you have a room ready to show, take a picture and then study it. If the picture looks good, then you are done. If not, then make your tweaks and take it again.  
10. PAINT, HOLD ALL THAT BEIGE- Paint is the very best way to to spruce up the interior of any home, and is truly one of those projects you can see a huge ROI (return on investment). Painting your home with neutral colors allows a potential purchaser to envision their own things in that space, appeal to the widest audience possible and helps you to avoid the common pitfall of overwhelming or offending someone with your highly personalized sense of style. People sometimes tend to go overboard with the concept of neutral, and paint the whole house beige, NOT GOOD. Too much of something can often have the opposite effect that was intended. This is a great blog post on HOW TO PAINT LIKE A PRO.

photo credit: jacki-dee via photopin cc