1) Enhance the first impression that a potential buyer has. Pay attention to how your lawn and landscaping looks. Remove dying plants or keep them out of sight. Keep the yard mowed, raked, weeded, fertilized and watered. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed. Use plants and flowers on porches and front walk way - create curb appeal! Hoses and garden equipment should be kept neatly out of sight. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unattractive patio furniture, trash, etc., from the yard. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean.

2) The exterior of the home should also sell the property. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition. Keep trash cans deodorized, covered and out of sight. Make sure the house makes a nice impression in exterior condition. Repaint and make structural repairs if necessary.

3) Does the doorbell work? If not, repair or replace it. Invest in a new doormat. Make sure the front door, screen door, etc. open easily and are visually appealing. If necessary, paint all entrance doors.

4) Brighten up your home. Open the window coverings and let the sun shine in. Window coverings should be cleaned so that they are not dusty. Have your windows professionally cleaned - you won't believe the difference! Turn on all lights - day or night. Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers. Wherever practical, install higher wattage light bulbs to further brighten your home.

5) Create the illusion of spaciousness, remove all clutter from each room to visually enlarge them. Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires. Improve traffic flow and create a feeling of spaciousness by removing unnecessary furniture, knick-knacks, hobby items, children's items, etc. Organize your closets and cabinets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Rent a storage area if needed, or pack it in the garage. You're going to move anyway -- start now!

6) Keep your home dusted and vacuumed. Make sure that beds are made. A neat and clean home is essential for that sale. Odor is also important. Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies. When possible, air out your home before the showing. Lightly spray room freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.

7) Pay attention to the bathroom area. Bathrooms should be kept clean, toilet lids down, no hair in the sink. Do not leave dirty towels out; wipe down the shower areas after each use. Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs. Re-caulk if the caulking is chipped and/or stained. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings. Fix dripping faucets, remove rust stains from basins.

8) The kitchen is very important and it should be kept clean. Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stove tops, walls, etc. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances - everything except those items used on a daily basis.

9) Paint inside walls with a neutral colored paint. Usually, all walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger and cleaner. Depersonalize teenager's rooms and decorate in a more neutral manner. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps. An investment in painting your home can make a big difference. Where necessary, repair or replace doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.

10) When showing your home, watch your pets. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot and some of them are not friendly to strangers. Best to secure them away from the potential buyer. Better yet, try to have a place for them to stay away from the home when showing.

And remember the most important tip of all: