Selling your home is similar to the selling of any product. From the moment you decide to place your home on the market, you become the seller of a product. The sale of this product will be determined in the same way that other products are sold.

• First, there must be a demand for your home given its condition and price relative to the current marketplace.
• Second, there must be ways for you to let prospective buyers know your home is for sale.
• Third, potential buyers must have easy access to your home so they can view it.
• Fourth, and perhaps most importantly, you must be willing and able to separate your personal and emotional ties to the home from the property itself.

Outside

Begin the process of readying your house for sale by stepping outside and evaluating the property from curbside. Trying to be objective, ask yourself what a buyer will notice as they drive up to the property. What is the general first impression?

• Has the exterior of the house been well taken care of?
• How does it compare with the other homes in the neighborhood?
• Has the landscaping surrounding the house been maintained?
• Do toys, tools, or trash litter the landscape and detract from the appeal of the house?
• Complete your inspection by walking around the house and into the back yard. Remain critical! Keep in mind that you are pretending to wear the shoes of a potential buyer. You are also following a path that will be walked by a home inspector or other individuals hired by the buyer to give professional opinions about the property’s facade and exterior characteristics. Prepare a list of action items that will need attention immediately and that can be completed with reasonable cost.

Inside

Conduct the internal inspection starting at the front door and walk through the house as a buyer might. At each threshold, stop and review each individual room to gain a general first impression. Make a list of action items pertaining to the inside of the house. Things to watch out for include:

• Clutter - Piles of newspapers, magazines, toys and other objects, and even mail distract from the fine points of a room and contribute to making the room seem smaller.
• Poor lighting - Inspect those things that contribute to the brightness of the room. Open curtains and shades, make sure windows sparkle from inside and out, replace burned out light bulbs and clean walls that have smudges or marks. Good lighting can also contribute to a feeling of spaciousness.
• Dirt - It appears in obvious places like heavily trafficked kitchens and baths, and some inconspicuous places that a serious buyer could investigate such as under furniture and appliances, in closets, on windowsills and the inside of cupboards. If your property is in a competitive market, you may want to hire a professional cleaning service to completely clean your house. A clean house gives the impression of being well cared for and offers a subtle assurance to most buyers.
• Too much furniture - This is often a problem when you have occupied a property for a number of years. In some cases, moving furniture from one room to another or removing certain pieces altogether can greatly improve the look and feel of a room.
• Poor decor - Keep an eye out for shabby fabric, colors than clash, or decorations that are so personal that they make the buyer focus on you rather than on your property. Also keep an eye out for empty spaces that could be filled by inexpensive silk flowers or plants, or other decorations that would spruce up a room.

Make a list of positive and negative features of each room and prepare to maximize the positives. Write down the finer points of your home so it is available when your home is presented to a prospective buyer.

If you feel that there are major repairs or renovations that must be completed in order for the house to sell, seek professional advice to get a second opinion before you invest your money. Unfortunately, in markets where there are more listings than buyers, it is sometimes necessary to complete major repairs even though the cost will not be recouped through the sale of the home.

If your goal is to sell, you will have to do whatever it takes to make sure your home sells. Stay focused on that goal. The process of preparing your home for sale requires a critical eye, an impersonal attitude and in some cases money.

Click here for a great resource for do-it yourself home repairs.