There are many things that you can and should do when you decide to sell your home, the most important of which is to make sure your home has 'curb-side appeal'.  Remember that you want to get the best price for your home, and that means convincing a buyer that your home is worth your asking price.

EXTERIOR

You will first want to assess the exterior of your home. Keep in mind that the exterior of your home is the first thing that buyers will see when they arrive. Go outside and look at your home from another person's point of view or ask a neighbor or friend for their opinions. What blemishes do you notice first? Any peeling paint should be repainted. Replace any damaged/broken siding and/or fencing and hinges. Pay particular attention to the front door and entryway. Weed out your sidewalks leading up the home and sweep the front step before a showing. Look closely at your front door. Could it use a fresh coat of paint? Any marks or scratches in the paint should be removed and/or repainted.

Make sure your lawn is nicely manicured and that any dead trees are removed. Weed out all of your gardens and plant new plants where needed. Fertilize and spray for pests.

Check your roof. Remove any leaves or debris laying on it, clean out your rain gutters and pressure wash the roof if necessary.

INTERIOR

Once you have fixed your exterior, you'll want to carefully assess the interior of your home. Polish any fixtures and make sure all windows and door locks work property. Wash all windows and tie back any draperies to bring in natural light and show off windows. Repair or replace ripped or missing screens on the windows and patios. Repair any wall holes and wash off any marks from the walls. Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to any trim and/or baseboard.

Repair or replace any broken tile on floors. Keep tile floors clean and well swept. Repair any cracked or missing grout. Have carpets professionally cleaned or if necessary, replace carpeting. Very often worn out carpeting is seen as a large expense in the eye of the buyer, but in reality can often cost very little. It's better to replace the carpeting and advertise it as new than have to take a large chunk off the top of your asking price for the repair of carpeting. If your carpeting has pet stains or odors that you think may be offensive, consider replacement.

Clean and organize all storage areas and closets. Replace burnt out light bulbs. Clear counters and store any large items that are on counters. Clean the shower of any unnecessary products, remove any mildew from tiles.

Take a walk around your home and look for aspects of it that make it unique. Is there a large picture window that you love, or a certain room or sitting area that is particularly unusual about your home? Make sure you highlight those aspects of your home by keeping them clean and tidy so that buyers take notice of these special characteristics.

You'll find that just a little time and effort put into your home can make a world of difference in its appearance and appeal. Follow these simple suggestions and you'll be well on your way to finding the perfect buyer.