In order to sell your home quickly, and for the best price, here is a list of things to address BEFORE your agent brings that first potential buyer to look at it.

1) Make sure the lawn is mowed, the shrubs are trimmed, and the porch is clean and free of clutter. If it's fall, rake up the leaves. If it's winter, keep the walkways clear. Make sure the front door is either freshly painted or well-scrubbed. It's all part of creating a positive first impression as potential buyers approach the home.

2) Inside, clean the house thoroughly, especially the bathroom and kitchen. Make sure the woodwork is either cleaned or freshly painted. Those two areas are very important in most people's minds, and you need to pay special attention to them to create a good impression.

3) Make sure all the faucets work (without dripping) and all light bulbs come on when their switches are turned on. Little things like that can be distracting to buyers.

4) Make certain that every closet door and cabinet opens easily, and closes securely. Doors that don't open or close properly give a negative impression to buyers.

5) Don't let your kids leave out their roller skates or skateboards, and if there are slippery rugs that you've learned not to step on over the years, remove them so potential buyers don't go flying.

6) Organize closets, basements, and attics, so that they look larger. Just like you, buyers are always looking for room to store things. If you have so much stuff that you can't do that, consider having a garage sale, renting a storage space, or calling the Salvation Army truck.

7) Pay special attention to the bedrooms. Just like the kitchen and bathroom, comfortable, spacious, and well-organized bedrooms make a positive impression in home buyer's minds, because they know they'll be spending a significant amount of time in them.

8) Open your curtains during the daytime, to let in as much light as possible. It gives a positive feeling to the home and makes rooms feel more spacious.

9) If the home is being shown at night, turn on every light inside and outside of the house. You'll be brightening the mood, as well as showing off your color scheme and wallpaper designs to their best advantage.

10) Don't have a bunch of people around when the home is being shown. In fact, it's a good idea to make an excuse to leave yourself, so that potential buyers are free to speak freely about what they see as they tour the home.

11) If you have pets, keep them away from the buyers. In fact, it's worthwhile to take them with you when you excuse yourself and make your exit during the showing.

When getting ready to show your home, always point toward creating a positive impression on prospective buyers. They want what you would want, they'll notice what you'd notice, so walk through your home and try to see it from a stranger's perspective. Ask other people to walk through and tell you the negative things they notice. Then address those things. It will all help you to sell your home--quickly, and at the best possible price.

Copyright Jeanette J. Fisher