Your home is your product - To maximize the value of your home and the speed of its sale, your home should be properly merchandised and displayed like any product that is offered for sale.  Packaging and merchandising are critical factors in the world of sales.

First impression counts - You never get a second chance at a first impression, so attempt to walk through your property in the shoes of your prospective buyer.  Look at your entire home with an honest eye and discern what needs improvement and or enhancement.

De-Clutter! - You're not hiring an agent to sell your personal things.  Organize! Purge!  If it's not in daily use does it really need to be here?  It's OK to have storage for your "stuff."  We all have stuff, but keep it minimized, neat and organized.  You will have to think "show home" while you are de-cluttering and that less does mean more.  Don't forget the cupboards, display cabinets and closets....it may be time for a garage sale!

De-personalize - Why take down the family reunion photo and the wedding pictures?   Prospective buyers are walking through imagining themselves living in your home.  They can easily become distracted by your personal photos and mementos, and they will start to focus on who you are and how you live rather than imagining themselves living there.

Clean, clean, clean - Your home should be "hotel clean" and odour free before you consider putting it on the market and showing it to prospective buyers (again, the first impression).  A lack of cleanliness says much more than words to those who are touring through, and it can literally cost you thousands at the bottom line.  If you can not do it yourself....spend a small amount and have the professionals come in.  Ask them to tend to the areas that are time consuming for you such as the baseboards, window treatments, and other infrequent stops in your cleaning routine.

Repair - If a door squeaks, a handle is wobbly or a drawer does not open or close smoothly;  then get it fixed.  Buyers will notice and they will make judgements on the maintenance level and upkeep of the rest of your property, based on that one small thing.  A $500 repair to you means a $5000 reduction in the price to them!

Paint Colours - Keep it neutral !!! Boring?  To you maybe,  but highly desirable to prospective buyers.  Their thought process simply put is that they can move in without having to first spend time and money to paint over your colours!  All the decorating shows love to reveal "after" photos of dramatic, colourful rooms.  That may help to sell a TV show to a viewer but it will not help sell a home to a buyer.  If it did, we would see more show suites at new developments painted red, mauve or fuchsia!

Reduce - Reduce the amount of furnishings in your home.  Are any rooms in your home filled with too much furniture?  Are there furnishings too large for the room?  Aim to give your room some breathing space for two immediate reasons.  First, it allows the prospective buyer to fully appreciate the space.  Second, it allows an easy traffic flow.  Pedestrian gridlock while viewers are walking through your home does not mean spacious living.

Light - Sunny and bright interiors are more appealing and therefore easier to sell.  Clean your windows inside and out.  Check for burnt out bulbs.  Replace low wattage with brighter bulbs.  We may not want to live in such bright light all the time but it does reinforce the fact that you have a bright interior to offer.

Decor touches- Pay very close attention to the small details that help in forming the overall impression.   Fresh cut flowers?  A bowl of fresh fruit?  A small lush potted plant?  When your prospective buyer leaves after viewing, they will be discussing what they saw based on their overall impression of the home.

Source: Dekora