A home is a home, so what’s the big deal about preparing it prior to a sale? Here’s the big deal: If your home doesn’t look attractive enough; you will not get the few hundred thousand dollars that you were banking on. Yes! That’s the harsh reality!

Look at it this way – If you were searching for a home to buy, would you invest in a home that looked like a huge dustbin from the inside or would you choose something that gave you a sense of peace? The general assumption is that you would go for the second one because of the attractive value it has. No one in their right frame of mind would love to settle down in a pile of dust and dirt!

You are probably wondering how you can beautify your home and get a millionaire to buy it. It’s quite simple. There are several ways of doing it and here are some of the aspects that you really need to consider:

Point #1: De-clutter your Home

Yes, we often clutter our home with the required and ‘not required’ items and things. Most often than not, old issues of Maxim or National Geographic are probably lying all around the house and not to forget the soiled clothes. First things first:

1. Remove, throw away, or donate whatever is not required. I held a garage sale and earned a nice sum from it.

2. If you have a book rack, ensure that everything is arranged alphabetically

3. Clean your kitchen and put all utensils in their right place

4. Remove everything that is lying around and give the home a nice vacuuming

5. Paint the home if it is required

6. Check for leakage or broken valves and have them repaired

Point #2: De-Personalize your home

This can be quite tough because most of us get emotionally attached to our home over a period of time. Basically, you will have to start by removing all personal photographs, personal artifacts, certificates, trophies, and any object that will make the prospective buyer feel it is your home. When a buyer walks in to your home, he or she should be able to say, “This is my home!” That’s when you will know that you have clinched the deal!

Point #3: Shine and sparkle your home

This is a time consuming process but then you need to start early. When a prospective buyer walks in then your home should look as good as new – as if no one has really lived in there. You are probably thinking, “Damn! I will have to work weekends!” So be it!

Here is what you need to do:

· Wash all the windows from inside out.

· You can rent a pressure washer and clean the exterior of your home

· Remove the cobwebs, dust and dirt on the floor, and no Dog or cat poo please!

· Re-caulk the showers, tubs, and sinks. Polish the faucets as well

· Wax marble floors and vacuum carpets. Replace the carpet if it is worn out

· Clean the air – use room freshener (Don’t smoke in the home!)

See how easy it was – all in a day’s work!