The Personality of Your House: You may like black ceilings. You may like your international beer bottle collection. The question is, will these things make your home easier to sell or more difficult. Can potential buyers see themselves living in your home or are they likely to look for the closest exit? Consider the following: smells from pets, tobacco or cooking sounds of loud music or television noisy children or barking dogs unusual art or furnishings unusual wall colours or heavily patterned wallpaper a mess by anyone's standard

Its the Little Things that Count: Small details make big statements about the condition, or just as important the perceived condition of your property. A house that shows poorly as a result of an overgrown lawn, an area of peeling paint, or simply the smell of mildew, may create the overall feeling that the property has not been cared for.

• The First Impression: Within the first 15 seconds most buyers have already developed an attitude toward your property! Consider from a buyers point of view, at the lawn and landscaping, the front porch, doorway, paint, siding, roof, windows, gutters & downspouts, and driveway (including the rust bucket parked there).

• The Interior: People react more favourably to property shown under bright light than dark. Keep colours neutral and light. The sounds of peace and quiet are the bests sounds to have when the house is being shown to a prospective buyer. Smell is very important and a bad odour can work against you while a good one can work in your favour.

• Entry: This is the first place for an impression of the interior. It is here that you can make a big statement in a small area. Keep it uncluttered, clean, and well lit.

• Kitchen: The kitchen is perhaps the most important room in the house. How attractive you make it look will have a major impact on the value of your property.

• Bathroom: Remember what you think when you go into other people's bathroom and act accordingly. Light, colour and, above all, cleanliness are important.

• Living Room: Although most people do not use the living room it still is important as the public face of the home. It should make a positive statement.

• Bedrooms: Make the beds and clear out the clutter from the closets.

• Basement: For some people, the look and feel of the basement makes or breaks the sale. It shows how well you have maintained the house by its character. By all means, eliminate the clutter.  

• Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible. Set the dining room table with your best dishes. Put out your only-for-company towels. Make up the spare bed. Hang some fresh curtains. Put some logs in the fireplace. Use your imagination.

• Get a buyer's-eye view. Walk up to your home and pretend you've never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about what you see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? 

Check out this more detailed list.

And Finally, You: One last element of your preparation should be to prepare yourself and your family. There are several things you can do to sell the house. The most important is to be absent when the house is shown, and that means everyone in the family. Potential buyers would like to linger but feel unable to do so with your son watching T.V. or you following along trying to the "help" the Realtor. If you feel you must give instruction to the Realtor, wait at the front door, give your message and then leave for a long walk.

The next important issue is to ask your Realtor for the comments heard during the showing. If one part of the house needs attention based on what the potential buyers say, then try to do something's about it. If cost is an issue, then inform the Realtor that the area will not be fixed so it can be openly addressed during showings.