1. Get a good real estate agent. Do not use a friend or someone that has little experience, do some research and find the best realtor in your area, almost all realtors charge the same amount, so why not hire the best?

2. Remove all personal items!  Potential buyers should be able to envision their personal belongings in the house and that's difficult with your stuff in the way.  Remove as much of your furniture and decor as possible because this will make the space look larger, throw out all the junk, it will make your eventual move easier anyway.Take everything off the countertops in the kitchen to make it  seem like there is more counter space.

3. Remove anything major that does not come with the home sale.  If you plan to keep your new washer and dryer or your antique chandelier, remove it and replace it before putting your house on the market.  If the buyer doesn't see it, he or she cannot want it and it cannot hinder the sale of your house. This does not mean you have to move out your couch or tv, just items that the home buyer may

accidentally assume are included with the sale. 

4. Make minor repairs.  Examine your house room by room and make a list of items that need to be fixed, cleaned, removed or replaced.  It could be useful to have someone who doesn't live with you do this also for a more objective point of view.   A crack in the wall, leaky faucets or a jammed door may be easy to fix but could cause a buyer to question if more serious problems lurk around any corner.  

5. Organize!  Everything should be neatly arranged.  Home Buyers tend to peek in every nook and cranny and are likely to think that the condition of your belongings is comparable to that of home maintenance.  If your belongings are in disarray, perhaps so is your ability to tend to maintenance issues. 

6. Paint everything a neutral color to allow the buyer to match the interior to their own preferences.  If your paint is already neutral, a fresh coat could rejuvenate the room. Buyers have no vision, they want the home ready to move in, even though a new home buyer could paint their new home any color they desire in a few hours, they will not buy your home with non standard colors.

7. Clean, clean, clean!  Scrub everything.  All windows, mirrors and appliances should sparkle.  If your house looks maintained, buyers will assume it is maintained.   The reverse applies as well.  Pay special attention to bathrooms and kitchens as these locations tend to be a magnet for grime.  

8. Make sure your house is scent-sational.  Lingering odors indicate prior periods of oversight.  Air out any musty, smoky or just plain smelly areas, and light a candle or spray air freshener.  But be careful to use more common smells- no one's house smells like a tropical rain forest and the unfamiliar scent could aggravate a buyer's allergies.  

9. Open curtains and blinds.  Natural light is more likely to inspire feelings of friendliness and warmth.  It can also make rooms appear larger and more homely, but keep them closed if their is an eye sore in view of a window.    

10. Don't forget the outside.  A buyer must go inside of your house to buy it but may not want to if the outside is not up to par.  Keep the area clean, the grass cut, your shrubs and garden neat and the siding clean.  You want your house to look welcoming, if the home does not have curb appeal a potential home buyer will not even get out of the car.

11. Price your home realistically. In a down market, many homeowners are surprized to find out how much the value of their home has gone down. Neighborhood foreclosures and auctions will effect the value of your home because bank appraisers now appraise a home's value based on a recent home sales using only the square footage and lot size, even though they should, appraisers no longer add value for upgrades, age of home, condition of the property, etc because they are afraid of losing their license if a bank claims their appraisal was to high. The million dollar pool you put in is now just a worthless hole in the ground, make sure you base your price on actual sales of  similar size homes within a 3 mile radius, not what they are asking for a home in a real estate magazine as those people may have their homes listed for sale at an unrealistic price. If you can not accept the new value of your home, try to stay or consider a foreclosure or short sale if that is not possible.

12. Get a second opinion. Although you may feel that the decor, condition of the property and landscaping are superb, ask for someone else's opinion as they may see things that you may not realize are causing a major problem selling your home.

13. Hide the noise. If there is a loud road or rock band that plays all day next door, put on a tv or radio at a low level.

14. Don't be home. If you are having a real estate agent sell your home, let him sell it. Do not be home when potential buyers are around as you will make them uncomfortable, it gives the appearance of them taking your home away from you and kicking you out and it also makes it harder for them to visualize the property as "their" home.