1) Do a walk-through. Is the house warm and inviting or does it look run-down, old or cluttered?
2) Touch up paint in all rooms. If the paint looks particularly unsightly in one room, repaint in a neutral color.
3) Make sure the kitchen and bathrooms shine. Remove all clutter, caulk around the tub and sinks. Shine the fixtures.
4) Prepare for a showing as you would for friends coming over. Make the beds, pick up clothing, sweep and mop as needed. Make it easy for prospective buyers to move through the house.
You've no doubt heard all the doom and gloom about this market. Well, I'm here to tell you that there are homes selling! While this may not be the best time ever to sell, homes that are priced right are selling - no matter what you read. Don't have a lot of equity in your home? You may want to consider renting it out for a couple years until the market returns - that way you can still purchase a new home to live in and not miss this unique opportunity.
One really nice thing about this area is that we never did experience the huge boom in real estate prices as was seen in some markets. As a result, our correction will also be much milder. That means you won't get quite as much profit from the sale of your home as you may have hoped, but to off-set that is the fact that you also won't have to pay as much for your next home.
5) Storage space will interest buyers. Make sure your closets are clutter-free and don't look jammed. Consider moving out-of-season items to storage.
6) Too much furniture can make a room feel cramped. Consider moving less-used items to storage as well.
7) Make sure your front door and entry are spotless.
8) Now walk outside and look (objectively) at what potential buyers see from the road. Will they ask to see the inside based on what they see and the price you're asking?