Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary to maximize its exterior and interior appeal.

Every seller wants her/his home to sell fast and bring top dollar. Does that sound good to you? Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will send homebuyers scurrying for their checkbooks. Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Here is how to prep a house and turn it into an irresistible and marketable home.

MAXIMIZING EXTERIOR & CURB APPEAL
Curb appeal and the outside of a property when seen from the street is very important.

Check foundation, steps, walkways and patios for cracks or crumbling.

Keep the lawn freshly watered, and fertilized regularly

Remove all toys, lawn equipment, hoses and tools from the yard

Replace or remove any dead hedges or shrubs. Trim anything that looks overgrown.

Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.

During spring & summer months, fill flower beds with colorful seasonal flowers

During the winter months, keep walkways free of snow and ice.

Clean and align all gutters and down spouts.

Repair or replace loose or damaged roof shingles.

Repair & repaint loose siding & caulking

Keep all windows clean & spotless

Replace or repair torn window screens, defective doorknobs, and fence slats.

Make sure that all doors, windows and garage open easily.

MAXIMIZING INTERIOR APPEAL
Even though curb appeal draws buyers into your home, interior improvements makes the sale. Enhance your home's interior by:

Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, and more spacious look.

Hire a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.

Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you are anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.

If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. Apply the same neutral scheme to carpets and flooring.

Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.

Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.

Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems.

Repair dripping faucets and showerheads.

Spruce up the kitchen in need of major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.

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Kitchen: Remove all appliances from the countertops. This one step, clearing the counter visually expands your kitchen. Soften the hard surfaces with fabric, including window treatments and new hand towels. If you decide the kitchen cabinets must be replaced, choose light wood or white finish to reflect light in a dark kitchen. White cabinets convey a sense of cleanliness and spaciousness. Wood cabinets in major cities recover 90-130% of the cost to put it in when you sell.

Bathrooms: Always have fresh towels in bathrooms. Choose bathroom faucets and fixtures that combine functionality and good looks. Utilize your bathroom space with these creative layouts. Keep your bathroom neat, tidy, and organized with these tips.

Collections: Everyone has collections -- There's also no reason to remove all of your paintings and family pictures from your walls, with the caveat that you do not want too many things on the walls. If every square inch of wall is covered by a picture, buyers may wonder if you're trying to conceal a problem. Remember that the objective is for the buyer to actually see the house. They must be able to see that the walls are not cracked and full of holes.

De-Clutter: Keep your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. A house that's too hot or too cold isn't inviting. Remove all books from bookcases, especially those displaying any political or religious content. If you don't need it, or have not used it in a while donate it or throw it away.

Furniture: Arrange your furniture in a way that makes each room look as large as possible. You may wish to relocate some furniture from one room to another, to achieve this effect. Also make sure carpets are steam cleaned and not torn.

Brightness: Bright, well-lit houses seem more spacious and cheerful. During the day, open all your curtains and drapes. Make sure curtains and blinds are clean, and that each room is as bright as possible. If you have heavy drapes, pull them back for showings -- or better yet, buy some light curtains to let light through. If the view is unpleasant, get sheer window coverings that mask the view. When you show your house, brighten up rooms by turning on all your lamps, even during the day. Be sure hallways and stairways are brightly lit. Don't forget to turn on closet lights, oven lights, and the lights over your stove and kitchen counter.

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