Selling a home can be alot of work but TRUST ME, all of your time and effort will not go to waste.  If you are looking to get top dollar for your home you will need to show buyers that your home is worry free and move in ready.  There are lots of articles out there on this subject but I can speak from experience, that these pre-listing tips will not steer your wrong!

1. Photograph it! Pick one of your rooms and take a few pictures of it.  Then look at it on your laptops/desktops larger screen.  Does this room look appealing to you?  When the room is photographed, this is what buyers are going to see.  Homeowners get used to the way a room looks, with all of its faults and clutter (I'm guilty too), but a buyer has "fresh eyes" and your listing photos are the buyers first impression.
2. Declutter!  You're planning on moving, right?  So why not box up the items that you really don't need on a daily basis while the house is on the market.  By doing this you will also be able to donate or throw away the things you no longer want. You want buyers looking at how wonderful your house is and not be distracted or put off by all of your belongings.  Also, buyers are snoopy.  They will open your closets and cabinets, and look in your garage.  If these are overflowing with your "stuff" they will think there is not enough storage for theirs.  Give the illusion of more space by boxing up your non-essential belongings before it goes on the market.  Buyers will overlook boxes stacked in the garage because they know you are moving.  Make sure to declutter the outside as well.
3. Clean, clean, clean.  A "spotless" home tells buyers that you care about the house.  This is not just vacuuming and mopping the floors, and cleaning the bathrooms.  Be sure to include things like the ceiling fan blades, a/c vents, baseboards, windows, and under sink cabinets, just to name a few.
4. Complete it and Fix it!   No buyer wants to take on your projects or issues that need to be addressed.  If they are willing to, then that means their offer price just went down. 
5. Get a home inspection up front.  The average cost is about $500 which I think is worth every penny.  An inspection will let you know what is "wrong" with your home in advance.  Now, not every home inspector will come up with the same list, but addressing some of the big items up front (and some of the easy stuff) will make your home more appealing.
6. Curb appeal.  Let's not forget about the outside as that is the buyers first impression of your home.  Replace rotted wood, pressure wash sidewalks, porches, and driveways, get rid of the cobwebs around the windows and doors, clean out the gutters, tame the shrubs, weed the garden beds, and keep the grass mowed. 

Not sure where to begin?  Start by calling me for an in-home consultation so we can get your house sold!