As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help us sell your home faster, at the best possible price.

You’ve probably heard that the three most important things in real estate are LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. Actually, that’s not quite right when it comes to selling. The 3 most important aspects of selling a home are LOCATION, PRICE and CONDITION. It’s often a difficult task for us to ignore the emotional ties we have to our homes, but it’s essential to try to view your property as if you were buying it instead of selling it.

One of the easiest and most reliable ways to improve the appeal of your home is to run through the list that follows and get as much of it done as possible. Hire someone if you need help; the right professional can help you get everything in order—from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning—so you can stay focused on more important things.

1. Make the Most of that First Impression
   A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted (or at least freshly scrubbed) front door. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
2. Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
   Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work."
3. Check Faucets and Bulbs
   Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing and other deferred maintenance issues. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.
4. Don’t Shut Out a Sale
   If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily sand them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
5. Think Safety
   Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
6. Make Room for Space
   Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
7. Consider Your Closets
   The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity, and store out-of-season clothes somewhere off the property.
8. Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
   Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.
9. Create Dream Bedrooms
   Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains tell buyers you love your home… and they will, too.
10. Open up in the Daytime
    Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.
11. Lighten up at Night
    Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights—both inside and outside—when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
12. Avoid Crowd Scenes
    Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home that’s not vacant. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. If you absolutely, positively MUST be on the property, make yourself scarce: go outside while they’re inside, and go inside when they’re outside.
13. Watch Your Pets
    Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot, some people are allergic to animals, and almost always the pets are a distraction. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
14. Think Volume
    Rock-and-roll will never die, but it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or turn off the TV.
15. Don't Apologize
    No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced sales associate handle the situation.
16. Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
    When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
17. Defer to Experience
    When buyers want to talk price, terms or other real estate matters, let them speak to the expert—Your Choice Real Estate agent.
18. Keep Your Home Safe
    Refer all contacts to your agent. He or she will have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled through the office, and you won’t have unqualified people wandering through your house. You'll appreciate the results!