Get Ready to Sell

A well-maintained home commands a higher asking price and receives more and better offers. Buyers trust that what they can't see has also received the same level of care.

Your real estate agent can be a wealth of information when it comes to getting your home ready to sell. The biggest question you'll need to ask as you evaluate potential improvements to every area of your home is what will cost you the least, yet have the biggest impact on buyers? Cosmetics and cleanliness are important here.

Refreshing paint, updating and cleaning fireplaces, replacing broken patio bricks, having windows and carpets cleaned professionally, getting rid of clutter, creating open space - these are all ways to boost a home's appearance. Remember, you need to attract buyers from the outside (curb appeal) and the inside of the home.

Make sure rooms have a clear purpose, and that they will appeal to both genders. You want viewers to be able to really imagine the home as theirs.

There are literally hundreds of staging tips for houses. Have your agent prepare a list of steps you can take now to get your home in prime selling condition, at a minimum cost to you.