1. The First Impression:  The rule is that the first impression is your only impression! Spruce it up to say “Welcome” as soon as they drive up.  If that means, buying some new fresh bedding plants, flowers in pots by the front door, new mulch, etc. Have your home look inviting from the street.

2.  Price it right! Have a current CMA done by the agents you are interviewing to list your home. We offer this to you for free at Cool Houses Austin!  You will get the most showings the first 30 days your home is on the market, so the right price is very important!

3.  De-Clutter! You’ve seen staged homes.  How do they do it?  Do yourself a huge favor and go rent a storage place and take 1/3 to 1/2 of your stuff and store it there.  Big hint! Your garage is not a storage unit!  Pack up the family memorabilia, photos, games, toys, Christmas decor, collections, personal keepsakes, etc. and move them to storage. Have that big garage sale before you list the house and much of your “stuff” will be gone and you will have $$$ in your pocket already!

4.  Ready to Show at a moment’s notice  That means putting it on a lock-box and tidying up before you leave for work.  That way, an agent can show your home when you are not there.

5.  Light and Bright! Make sure that after you de-clutter, you deep clean and paint!  Every room should sparkle!  Buyers want good light and freshly painted (neutral) walls in their new home. Not sure what neutral means (check out your local Pottery Barn store for great ideas). Replace burned out bulbs, clean your windows until they sparkle, clean screens (or remove them entirely and stack them in the garage).  You want as much light coming in as possible. Voila!  Your home suddenly looks newer and brighter!

6. Kitchens Sell a Home! Now is not the time to totally remodel your kitchen to get more money, but it is the time to paint the kitchen (remove any old wallpaper), paint the cabinets if needed, update the cabinet hardware, and the kitchen faucet!  Some experts advise buying one brand new high-end stainless steel appliance to replace any old ones that you have. (It makes the whole kitchen look expensive).Never ignore your competition.  Be a savvy, educated seller.  It will pay off in the long run.

For more tips on selling your home, I always suggest to my sellers to spend a few evenings watching HGTV and see how the experts do it!

And for more tips on selling your home, check out their top 10 at HGTV.com/real-estate