Are you preparing to sell your home?  There are many questions as to how to present your home for the best possible outcome! Below is a guide to improve the curb appeal and prepare your home to be shown.  Simple touch-ups can do a lot to impress a potential buyer. Small upgrades and minor decor replacements may seem like a waste of time but in reality may be the most important step to accomplish your goal.

Your first step is to put on your buyers hat and walk through your home as if you are seeing it for the first time. Be objective and make notes of the things that stand out to you.  What do you, as a buyer, want to see replaced or repaired?  Make a list of all things that you notice. Be sure you can check off every item on this list before you even begin to imagine hanging a “For Sale” sign out front.

1. Clean, clean, clean. Be sure to clean every nook and cranny. Don’t forget overlooked areas, such as dusting the fireplace mantel and ceiling fan blades, polishing appliances and faucets, and washing the windows. If you’ve already moved out or if you’re too busy to do a thorough cleaning, consider hiring a cleaning service.
2. Pay attention to smells. Don't cook strong meals on the day of showing.  Smells from cooking can linger and leave the impression of a fast food restaurant rather than an inviting home. 
3. Clear out the clutter. You want buyers to focus on how awesome your space is, not how lacking it is.  Remove that pile of shoes from the entry, that stack of mail from the kitchen table, and anything else that detracts from your home’s features. Not only does this look cluttered, it leaves the impression of not enough storage space.
4. Repaint the walls in neutral colors. Not every one will love your accent wall.  Color preference is subjective.  Repaint your walls in neutral tones; cream, grey, beige, white.  Neutral colors keep the focus on the homes features and selling points.
5. Keep the decor simple. To help buyers imagine themselves in your space, get rid of any statement art or decor that might turn people off.
6. Get rid of personal items. Buyers want to be able to envision themselves in your home, so remove anything overly personal, such as kids’ artwork on the fridge.  Personal photos also need to be removed.  
7. Let there be light! Open all the windows to let in natural light and add floor or table lamps to illuminate areas that are dim. A bright room looks bigger and more inviting.
8. Bring nature inside. Potted plants or a few flowers in a vase can help bring energy into a space, fill in empty corners, and even draw attention to features you want buyers to notice. Just make sure the plants are healthy.
9. Get rid of bulky furniture. Your furniture should fit the scale of the room, so get rid of any extra or over-sized items that could make your space look smaller than it really is. 
10. Organize your closets. Storage space is a huge selling point. If your closets are too full, buyers will think you don’t have enough of it. Invest in some boxes, dividers, and other solutions that will help you organize your closet. Remove items you don’t need and store them until you move.  The fewer items in your closet, the larger it will look!
11. Tackle that honey-do list.  Buyers will notice minor flaws, and they’ll detract from the value of your home. So set aside a weekend to tighten those loose doorknobs, fix that leaky faucet, and paint over the scuffs on the walls. Take care of all of those things you've been meaning to get to.  Now is the time!
12. Do a faux renovation. Little tweaks can make a big difference in the overall feel of a room. Kitchen or bathroom a bit outdated? Replace the fixtures, faucets, knobs and hinges. Family-room furniture beaten up? Throw some slipcovers over it. 
13. Give each room a purpose. That spare room you’ve been using as an office/guest room/dumping ground won’t help sell your home unless you show buyers how they can use it themselves. So pick a use (office, guest room, crafts room) and clearly stage the space to showcase that purpose.
14. Turn the bathroom into a spa. You want your bathroom to have the feel of a relaxing beautiful spa. Stack a few pretty washcloths tied with ribbon, add some candles and orchids, and buy bathmats and towels in coordinating tones such as light green, blue, and white.  
15. Lower the toilet seat. When it comes to both showing and photographing your home, this little trick can make a surprising difference.  Its a little detail with a huge impact.
16. Turn the living room into a conversational space. Help buyers picture themselves relaxing with family and guests by grouping your furniture into arrangements that inspire conversation.
17. Keep the flow going. The last thing you want is people bumping into furniture as they tour your home; it disrupts their focus and makes your space look cramped. Do a dry run as though you’re seeing your home for the first time and tweak anything that interrupts the “flow.”
18. Make something yummy. Real estate agents don’t put out fresh cookies at open houses just to treat buyers. A “homey” smell such as cookies or muffins baking can help people connect with a kitchen.
19. Make it look lived in with vignettes. Help your buyers see themselves in your home by adding deliberate vignettes that showcase how your home can be lived in. An inviting armchair and a tray with a coffee cup and book on it can turn that empty corner into a reading nook. Pretty soaps in a decorative tray can make your tiny half bath more appealing.
20. Highlight focal points. Draw buyers’ eyes toward any special features with bright colors or accents such as plants. A pop of red from a throw pillow can draw buyers’ attention to that lovely window seat. A striking fern on the mantel can show off your fireplace.
21. Boost the curb appeal. Make sure to assess the outside of your home as well as the inside. Buyers may decide to not enter a home based on its curb appeal, so make sure your home’s exterior looks excellent. Trim shrubs, weed flower beds, remove and refresh any peeling paint, and keep the walkway clear. That first impression goes a long way.