You’ve decided it’s time to sell your home. The task can seem overwhelming; at first, but by following these 10 guidelines you’ll be on your way!

1. Separate your emotions from the practicality of selling-Selling can be an emotional process for even the most experienced sellers. Just remember you need to see your home through potential buyers’ eyes.
2. Depersonalize and declutter your Home. Buyer’s want to be able to imagine themselves living in your home. Remove personal pictures, take everything off the fridge, remove clutter from your kitchen counter and start packing up extra clutter and toys. All of these tasks will help create an open and clean appearance.
3. Organize your closets, drawers, storage area and garage. Potential buyers WILL open your closets, drawers, garage and check out your storage. You want to appear as spacious as possible. If you have a lot of belongings, now is a GREAT time to donate, throw away and sell excess stuff. You could also rent a local storage unit if you are not ready to part with the items.
4. Clean from top to bottom-Give your house extra attention in the cleaning department. Beyond a normal cleaning make sure to give every inch of your house a good scrub. Clean windows, dust ledges and fans, touch up paint, steam clean your carpets, clean grout and wipe down doors & light switches. Have a friend or neighbor come over and go through the house with the highest of expectations. I assure you potential buyers will be tougher on your home. This step will yield the highest return.
5. First impressions matter-No matter what season it is make sure to maintain your yard. Mow the grass, remove weeds, have fresh mulch down. If it’s the fall, rake your leaves and prune bushes. Winter, have a clear path to the front door and make sure ice melt is down.
6. Make repairs to those things that need attention-Have a running toilet? Call a plumber. Need to replace or fix a light, call an electrician. Notice a water leak, call a professional. Loose handles or stubborn doors…adjust them. Repairs are best handled before there is ever an issue and a potential buyer in the picture.
7. Spruce up your front door-Clean spider webs, nests, and other messes left by Mother Nature. Sweep your front stoop. Invest in a brand new house mat. Paint front door a color that compliments your exterior. Put up a seasonal wreath. All these things will make your potential buyer happy before entering your home.
8. Remove all evidence of pets-Everyone loves pets…except when they are in their potential new home. Hide bowls, toys, beds, leashes, kennels, litter boxes, and everything pet related from home. Clean up evidence of your pet in the yard. Make sure home doesn’t smell like animals. Ask a friend or family member to be honest about how your home smells. Clean animal hair, you want to leave buyers with a lasting impression, but not that of animal hair all over their clothes.
9. Accent with pops of color-The easiest cost effective way to freshen up your home is by adding new pillows to a couch. Buy a new bedspread for your bedroom. Put out new towels in the bath and then hide till next showing. Accessorize tchotchkes in groups of three throughout your home.
10. Keep calm, cool, and collected-As stressful as this experience may seem, if you’ve prepared correctly and aligned yourself with the right professionals this process can lead you to the sale of your home!