There are lots of things that you can do to get a house ready to sell. During this process, you want to focus on those items that will make the best impression on the potential buyers. For example, the first thing they will notice when they drive up to the home is the exterior, and this includes the landscaping. Does it look clean and neat, or does it look like it's going to take a lot of time, money and effort to get it looking good? A new buyer doesn't want to have a lot of work to do as soon as they move in.

In addition to the exterior of the house, there's the interior. Does it look clean and neat, does it look spacious, does it look like it's been cared for? These are questions that the potential buyer will be thinking as they walk through your house. If it doesn't look good, it will be a short visit.

The buyer will evaluate both of these aspects of the home, so you want to make sure that your home's interior and exterior appear to be well-maintained and nicely decorated. All things considered, this kind of home will sell faster and for a higher price than a comparable house that isn't as attractive.

The one caution, however, is not to undertake a major redecorating effort just to prepare the house for sale. There is no guarantee that the buyer will like what you've done to improve the home, and you may not recover the expense of the improvements. So don't bother with expensive new curtains and wallpaper, adding a deck, or spending lots of money on landscaping. Also, don't install carpeting over otherwise good floors, such as plank hardwood or parquet.

Concentrate instead on the decorating you believe is needed to make your home look good -- painting, replacing worn linoleum or placing wall-to-wall carpet over unfinished flooring. Choose neutral colors and simple patterns that are likely to harmonize with the tastes of most prospective buyers. If done right, they'll view these improvements as savings to them in both money and time.

If it is wintertime, and most of your trees or gardens are bare, it will be advantageous to put out pictures of what they look like in full bloom. You might also consider gathering up the latest utility bills, or figure the annual expenses for your home and make a list of them showing an average monthly expense. Pull together appliance receipts, service records and information on when major systems -- such as the furnace -- were installed. Collect warranties on siding, roof shingles, and so forth. Organize all of these items into a folder for easy reference, and place it and the landscape pictures where they are sure to be noticed, typically on the dining room table.

First impressions count
Ask yourself what convinced you to buy the home you're in, and what things turned you off about other homes you didn't choose. Now look through your home and answer these same questions as though you are a prospective buyer. Some simple things you can do to make your house more appealing are:

• Clean the interior and exterior of the house. Our inside and outside seller's checklists include items you should inspect and repair before putting your house on the market. If you don't, you can almost bet that the buyer will check these items, and they could cost you a sale if they are in disrepair.
• Make your home look as spacious as possible. You want the house to look spacious, even if it's not, and the easiest way to accomplish this is to eliminate all the clutter. Empty out crammed closets (including clothes and shoes), pack away extra books and rarely used items, and sort out attic and basement storage spaces to avoid that crowded look. If you want these items, then consider storing them somewhere else, perhaps at a relative's house. Sell, give away or throw away what you can before you start showing the house.
• Depersonalize your space. This is especially true of your decorating items, and anything else in the house that represents your personal taste but not that of many others. Buyers want to imagine their things in the house, so don't distract them with yours, so matter how much you love them.

Disclose problems and defects
Many states require that owners disclose any material defects that they are aware of. Even if your state does not require this, most home buyers will obtain an inspection so you should be honest and reveal known problems and defects in your home's roof, walls, foundation, basement, plumbing, heating and electrical systems, as well as past pest problems and the presence of hazardous materials such as radon, lead-based paint, and asbestos. Obviously, fix what you can, but if it's going to be an expensive proposition, it might be best to lower the price accordingly and disclose the items.