Tips for Sellers 

Do a walk through

Pretend you're a stranger, a buyer. Begin by driving to your house, getting out of the car, looking around and ultimately walking through the front door. Do this with your most honest friend—not your emotionally involved spouse or partner and not your adoring mother—but someone who will be realistic about the impression your property makes on a stranger. Together make a list of everything that doesn't look, feel, or act right, such as:

• Windows that are stuck or missing screens
• Leaks
• Toilets that continually run
• Broken appliances
• Peeling paint
• Messy garage
• Yucky basement
• Dirty carpets and floors
• Lights that don't work
• Missing shingles
• Squeaky or stuck doors, including the garage door

If something is broken, make repairs immediately. These items are not likely to squelch a deal except with the most persnickety buyer, but they definitely give even the casual buyer ammunition to negotiate a seriously lower price. One broken appliance, in fact, gives the impression that your house might be a fixer-upper.

Incidentally, the first thing most buyers notice is the carpet or floor in the entrance hallway or the living room. Spend the money and have carpets cleaned and floors polished professionally.

Clean up the clutter

Give your house a face lift. Treat it as though it is a stage set in a play, one in which the buyer can imagine living very happily ever after. If you don't have a natural eye for space, color and decorating, hire a real estate enhancement expert to guide you.

Easy ways to create that "buy me!" feeling without spending too much money:

• Take out one piece of furniture from each room so all of them appear large, spacious and inviting.
• Empty out your closets so they are half to two-thirds full. Buyers love closet space ... so give it to them. Store your off-season clothes and toys the kids no longer use. In the process, you'll probably find lots of stuff you can donate to charity for a tax deduction!
• Tip: You're going to be packing up anyway, so why not start now.
• Hang mirrors. They not only make rooms appear larger but they also capture the light.
• Remove family pictures. You want buyers to envision living in this house—difficult to do if four generations of your family are on display.
• Paint any room that is peeling, dreary or dirty. Pick a fairly neutral color—not necessarily a boring beige, but a soft yellow or light blue, Refrain from jazzing up the look with purple, bronze or black; they may be your favorites but appear awful to someone else.
• Add live plants. They add a great deal of warmth to any room, including the kitchen and bath.
• Clean off kitchen counters. You want to enhance the amount of work space available to the serious cook. Lots of little appliances, gizmos and gadgets are "counter" productive.
• Get new slipcovers. You can buy reasonably priced, pre-made ones that cover sofas and chairs of all sizes.
• Discard shabby drapes and curtains. Unless they're hiding something even more shabby, forget about buying new ones—just wash the windows.
• Put all candles in candle holders. You don't need to light them, but they, along with flowers, add dramatically to your home's appeal.

Bottom line: Your mini-makeover should give your house or condo a tranquil, work-friendly and family-happy feeling.

Accentuate curb appeal

The outside of your house is what gives visitors their first impression. You can boost "curb appeal " by painting your front door, adding a brass knocker, putting up attractive house numbers or installing a lamppost.

And, keep in mind that the dullest appearing house gains immediate character (and color) with shutters.

Then trim the bushes so that all doors and windows, including the half-basement ones, are vine-free. The lawn should also be mowed and dandelion-free.

Set aside time to repair your fence and clean up any utility or potting sheds. If your garage is a catch-all for 20 years' worth of throwaways, you might want to hire someone to help you organize your tools and haul away old tires, non-functioning lawnmowers and rusty barbecues.

Finally, if the trim around the house and on the shutters is worn, scrape and apply a fresh coat of paint.