When selling your home, the goal is to sell it quickly for the highest price while investing as little as possible in renovations. With a limited budget and a little effort, you can greatly increase your home's appeal by focusing on what prospective buyers can see on their first visit. Take the following recommendations when preparing a house for sale and staging it for showings. 

Tip #1: Refresh the exterior
First impressions count when it comes to selling a home. Most buyers won’t even leave their car if they don’t find the exterior appealing. The best ways to improve your home’s exterior include: 
-Repairing and/or replacing trims, shutters, gutters, shingles, mailboxes, window screens, walkways and the driveway. 
-Painting siding, trim and shutters and lamp and mailbox posts. 
-Pressure washing vinyl siding, roofs, walkways and the driveway. 
-Washing windows. 

Tip #2: Spruce up the lawn and landscape
Home buyers associate the condition of your lawn and landscaping with the condition of your home’s interior. By improving the outside, you affect buyers’ impression of the entire property. The best ways to enhance the yard include: 
-Mowing and edging the lawn. 
-Seeding, fertilizing and weeding the lawn. 
-Keeping up with regular lawn maintenance by frequent watering.
-Trimming and/or removing overgrown trees, shrubs and hedges. 
-Weeding and mulching plant beds. 
-Planting colorful seasonal flowers in existing plant beds. 
-Removing trash, especially along fences and underneath hedges. 
-Sweeping and weeding the street curb along your property. 

Tip #3: Create an inviting entrance
The front door to your home should invite buyers to enter. The best ways to improve your entry include: 
-Painting the front door in a glossy, cheerful color that complements the exterior. 
-Cleaning, polishing and/or replacing the door knocker, locks and handles. 
-Repairing and/or replacing the screen door, the doorbell, porch lights and house numbers. 
-Placing a new welcome mat and a group of seasonal potted plants and flowers by the entry. 

Tip #4: Reduce clutter and furniture
A buyer cannot envision living in your home without seeing it. A home filled with clutter or even too much furniture distracts buyers from seeing how they can utilize the space your home offers. If you have limited storage space, you may want to consider renting a temporary storage unit to place items you wish to keep. The best ways to declutter your home include: 
-Holding a garage sale to prepare for your move, getting rid of unnecessary items.
-Removing clutter such as books, magazines, toys, tools, supplies and unused items from counter tops, open shelves, storage closets, the garage and basements. 
-Storing out-of-season clothing and shoes out of sight to make bedroom closets seem roomier. 
-Removing any visibly damaged furniture. 
-Organizing bookshelves, closets, cabinets and pantries. Buyers will inspect everything.
-Putting away your personal photographs, unless they showcase the home. Let buyers see themselves in your home.
-De-personalize rooms as much as you can.

Tip #5: Clean, clean, clean
The cleanliness of your home also influences a buyer's perception of its condition. The appearance of the kitchen and bathrooms will play a considerable role in a buyer's decision process, so pay particular attention to these areas. The best ways to improve these areas include: 
-Cleaning windows, fixtures, hardware, ceiling fans, vent covers and appliances. 
-Cleaning carpets, area rugs and draperies. 
-Cleaning inside the refrigerator, the stove and all cabinets. 
-Removing stains from carpets, floors, counters, sinks, baths, tile, walls and grout. 
-Eliminating house odors, especially if you have pets. 
-Considering air fresheners or potpourri. 

Source: BuyOwner.com

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