When a buyer is looking for a home generally they determine; how much home they can afford, the area where they want to live and what features they are looking for in the house (number of bedrooms and bathrooms etc.) When they get to the point that they are actually looking at houses they normally, are looking in the same area, within a general price range and have chosen to preview homes that meet their criteria for rooms and features. So if they are looking at your house they are probably looking at several similar homes in your area.

This is where you have the opportunity to make sure your home stands out compared to others. It is also worth your while to take the time and attend open houses or preview homes with your real estate broker to see how your home compares.

Two of the key elements that attract buyers are condition and convenience , these are the factors that you the seller can control and that often can be overlooked or under estimated by other sellers. Any experienced real estate agent can tell you going into a home that is cluttered and dirty immediately drives away most potential buyers. Even if the home is priced right, in the right area and has the features they want. The clutter can often make the home feel smaller and prevents the potential buyer from visualizing it as their home. A home that is dirty registers in the buyer's mind in two ways, 1. Does the lack of cleanliness translate into "have they failed to maintain other areas of the home that can't readily be seen" or 2. How much work will it take to get the house in the condition where the buyers will feel comfortable moving in?

The first step is to remove all the clutter, make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are cleared off, try to keep toys organized in closets and shelves, remove any excess knickknacks and family photos. If you have too much furniture and too many things, put it in storage. After you have that accomplished make sure the home is clean from floor to ceiling. This means a detailed cleaning including removing the finger prints off the walls, cleaning the fireplace and having the carpets professionally cleaned. If this does not produce the desired results, you may need to add a fresh coat of paint or replace worn or stained carpeting. Never give the buyers an allowance to replace the carpets. Do it yourself and do it before the showing. Also, get rid of dated wallpaper. While wallpaper is making a comeback, dated wallpaper will always be, well, dated. Since it's not easy to paint over wallpaper, removing it is the best option. Taking these steps goes to the convenience factor for the buyers.

Just about everyone that moves into a new home does so under a pretty tight timeline. Waiting for the closing, vacating their existing home and moving into the new home can be daunting process. If the basic of the new house such as flooring and walls need an immediate update to make the new owners feel comfortable about moving in, it will cause them a great deal of inconvenience. Where do they store their furniture when making the needed changes? So focus on the walls and floors first. Remember it is a lot easier for the new owners to have new appliance delivered and old ones removed that having to have new carpeting installed or having a room painted.

Another important consideration is odors. Many people who smoke or who have pets are so accustomed to the smells that they don't notice it. Get a second opinion. Don't try to cover up the odors with potpourri, air freshener or deodorizer. Do what is necessary to eliminate the smells. This goes back to cleaning, painting and replacing flooring.

If after you take a hard look at your home and determine that the costs of making the needed changes are more than you can easily afford consider a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC). You will need to make sure you have secured the loan before listing the home for sale. Once the home is listed on the MLS most lenders will not approve the loan.

The idea is not to improve the condition of your home to your liking, but to improve it to sell it.

• Select neutral colors: It creates a blank-canvas effect for potential buyers.
• Paint, paint, paint: It's the quickest and most inexpensive makeover technique. If the exterior paint is faded or weather-beaten, a fresh coat of paint is a cost-effective sales tool.
• Hide those flaws: Textured wallpapers and faux wall finishes hide a multitude of surface flaws.
• Focus on floors: Whether wood, tile, laminate or vinyl, make sure they're inviting, not cracked or discolored. Again, neutrals sell best, natural wood best of all.
• Cost-cutting ideas: Use wood or tile to dress up laminate countertops; stencil that backsplash instead of installing tile; consider marble sheets instead of ceramic tile for that tub surround.

Keep all options open: One man's workshop is another man's wine cellar. Don't eliminate options when you remodel rooms.