With a little effort on your part, your home can be sold sooner and at a better price. The following tips have proved invaluable to owners and are worth your special attention:

Preparation For Showing

First impressions are lasting! The front door greets the prospect. Make sure it is fresh, clean, and paint the trim.

Keep the lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Reseed the lawn and fertilize if necessary, weed the gardens, and add mulch. Deep green grass makes a lasting impression. In the winter, be sure snow and ice are removed from walks and steps.

Decorate for a quick sale. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce appeal. Why try to tell the prospects how your home could look, when you can show them by redecorating? A quicker sale at a higher price will result. An investment in neutral new wallpaper or paint will pay dividends.

Remove personal items. Make the home look as neutral as possible and let the buyers imagine the spaces with their photographs on the wall.

Let the sun shine in. Open draperies and curtains and let the buyers see how cheerful your home can be. Dark rooms do not appeal.

Do the windows and window screens work well and look good? Have the windows spotless and replace damaged blinds.

Are the appliances operating properly and sparkling?

Fix the faucet! Dripping water discolors sinks and suggests faulty plumbing.

Repairs can make a big difference. Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor flaws detract from the home’s value. Have them fixed.

From top to bottom. Display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility space by removing all unnecessary articles. Brighten dark, dull basements by painting walls and adding brighter light bulbs.

Safety first. Keep stairways clear. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries.

Pack excess linens and clothing to make closets look bigger. Neat, well-ordered closets show the space is ample.

Bathrooms help sell homes. Check and repair grout in bathtubs and showers. Make this room sparkle. Don’t let the handyman add gobs of caulking when grout is what you need.

Arrange bedrooms neatly. Remove excess furniture. Use attractive bedspreads and fresh looking window coverings.

Hide valuables and prescription drugs.

Remove or mention to your realtor any attached items that are not included, such as special chandeliers, shelving or garden plants. Remember, anything attached to the property is considered a fixture and will be expected to stay with the house unless it is specifically excluded.

Are you familiar with similar homes on the market that you may be competing against?

Ask your realtor for a list of ways how to improve the “marketability” of your home without wasting time and money?

Can you see the light? Illumination is like a welcome sign. The potential buyer will feel a glowing evening when you turn on all your lights for an evening inspection.

Be ready to disclose any structural defects such as roof, foundation or wiring problems.

Start preparing for your upcoming move, but if you must have piles of boxes in the house, try to put them in the garage to keep the home clutter-free.