The ability to reap the maximum price on the sale of your home can be accomplished easily enough if you make the right improvements. Basic, simple and inexpensive improvements can provide an improved emotional appeal for a potential buyer.

• A crack in the wall can be (and should be) repaired with some simple spackle or plaster and touch-up paint.
• Decorate with pictures and mirrors to add style to the home. Mirrors can provide a greater sense of space when properly placed. Touch up the frames and then place the mirrors around your home. Be careful not to overdo it with too many mirrors, though! You want the home to feel spacious, not like Studio 54!
• One of the biggest complaints heard from potential buyers that there isn’t enough closet space. Purchasing a closet organizer and installing it in any or all of your closets can make all the difference. You can also try installing a chic wardrobe in a corner of a bedroom for hanging clothes. The idea here is to be creative so that the “fake closet” looks as though it were part of the room. (Consider offering to leave the wardrobe for the buyer, too!)
• Paint is inexpensive, quick, and simple. The right paint can brighten the room or hallway and bring it back to life. Make sure to choose neutral colors – consult with your Realtor® about the colors buyers prefer. Remember, you are trying to sell the home and move out, so it doesn’t necessarily have to conform to your personal preferences.
• Buyers are easily turned off by a scarred, dingy floor. Whether you have wooden, tile or carpeted floors, do whatever you can to make them shine again. For damaged wood floors, call a professional for an estimate for restoring your floor. If you have carpeted floors, consider replacing the carpet; ask for “real estate carpet” at your flooring company: it is light and inexpensive, but can be a nice selling point for your home.
• Having houseplants is not only healthy for you but creates a feeling of warmth around them. Indoor plants are far less expensive than you might imagine. Attractive ceramic or brass pots can add a designer touch to your home. Hanging plants such as Boston ferns are inexpensive, easy to care for and would go great in your new home when you move.
• Give your bathroom a face-lift by adding a coat of fresh paint, some decorative moldings, tile grout, and maybe a new designer faucet and showerhead. Perhaps more important than anywhere else in the house, clean your bathrooms relentlessly.

These simple dress-up tips are nice for quick and easy improvements, but there are other factors that will also affect your home’s resale value. These have much more to do with the legality and contracts and inspections that are necessary when selling a home. Each and every one is just as important as the overall appearance of the home.

• First of all, you must price your property correctly and at a competitive market value when you list it. The market is so competitive that even overpricing by a few thousand dollars can be the difference between selling or not. The problem with an overpriced home is that it can minimize the number of offers, lower the number of showings, lower agent response, limit financing options, limit the number of qualified buyers, and net less money for the seller.
• You must make your home available for showings. Buyer’s brokers will not show homes for which they must search high and low for the key and access – they do not have time to rush around town all day chasing down and dropping off house keys. If you will be home during a showing, then put on some soft music and take a walk when the potential buyers come through, letting the buyer be at ease and letting the buyer’s agent do his or her job. Selling your home quickly can be a benefit if you need to leave immediately, but can cost you thousands of dollars. A buyer sensing the seller is distressed will make a lower offer. This is why pricing correctly is important – you should know all there is to know about the market before listing and work hand in hand with your agent.
• Disclosing property flaws up front is vital in selling your home for the most possible money. Get professional assistance for all levels, from disclosing the flaw to fixing it. If you are unaware of a problem or attempt to cover it you, you risk losing the sale and finding yourself in cour

Whether you just want your house to look better or you are serious about getting your house ready for potential buyers to start viewing your house to purchase, here are 38 valuable tips to get you on your way

EXTERIOR:

1. Paint the exterior of your home to make it look cleaner and years younger. If your home has been painted recently, have the trim painted again. The fresh smell of paint to the buyer shows that the seller has put forth effort to prepare the home for sale.
2. Trim shrubs, especially around walkways.
3. Park extra cars down the street.
4. Sweep debris from sidewalks, patios, and the front walkway.
5. Put away all toys, skateboards and bicycles.
6. Remove rusted swing sets and worn out patio furniture.
7. Move firewood off the ground and away from the house. On a termite inspection, firewood stacked next to the house might be flagged as a condition conducive to termite infestation.
8. Make sure the roof is in good condition.
9. Mow the lawn frequently. Weed and plant flowers.
10. Clean all windows and repair any broken panes.
11. Keep pets out of the way.
12. Clean up oil stains on the driveway.
13. Water yard only in the early morning or late evening to avoid water being tracked inside the home.
14. Move trashcans from out front of the house and out of walkways.
15. Clean the gutters.
16. Repair sprinkler heads so that the yard doesn’t develop brown spots.

INTERIOR:

1. Put away all dishes, toasters, blenders, etc. from kitchen counters to create the illusion of spaciousness.
2. Organize the laundry room. Clean all clothing or keep it neatly in baskets or hampers.
3. Bathrooms should sparkle. Clean the faucets. If the shower curtain is worn, buy a new one.
4. Clean and vacuum all flooring.
5. Make the beds.
6. Remove all clothes from chairs or floors.
7. Remove unnecessary furniture items to create space. This will make your rooms appear larger.
8. Keep appliances, air conditioner and heater in perfect working order.
9. Seal or caulk windows, tubs, showers and sinks.
10. Clean ashes from the fireplace.
11. Open drapes and blinds, and turn on all the lights.
12. Store away extra clothes and shoes so closets appear larger.
13. Remove knickknacks that may look like clutter.
14. Remove potentially offensive posters or paintings, as well as any ethnic or religious items which might hinder a buyer’s ability to visualize their own family in your home.
15. Put toys away in the kids’ bedrooms.
16. Move any valuable figurines or artwork that could accidentally get knocked over.
17. Place fresh flowers and plants throughout the home.
18. Keep pet areas clean and odor free.
19. Secure jewelry, cash, and prescription medication out of sight and out of reach.
20. Remove any extension cords or phone cords that might present a walking hazard.
21. Make sure that the temperature inside your home is comfortable during showings.
22. Be sure to place jewelry or any other valuables in a safe deposit box.