Showing your home

■ De-Personalize Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, “I wonder what kind of people live in this home?” You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."

■ De-Clutter Remove all books from bookcases. Pack up those knickknacks. Clean off everything on kitchen counters. Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use. Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.

■ Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets Imagine what a buyer believes about you if she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. Alphabetize spice jars. Neatly stack dishes. Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way. Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction. Line up shoes.

■ Rent a Storage Unit Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Since your bookcases are now empty, store them. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, “What is this room used for?”

■ Remove/Replace Favorite Items If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, he/she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer he/she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.

■ Make Minor Repairs Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in walls. Fix leaky faucets. Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam. Consider painting your walls neutral colors. Replace burned-out light bulbs. If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!

■ Make the House Sparkle Wash windows inside and out. Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior. Clean out cobwebs. Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks. Polish chrome faucets and mirrors. Clean out the refrigerator. Vacuum daily. Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures. Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Wash all the windows and let in as much natural light as possible.

■ Scrutinize Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.

■ Curb Appeal If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside. Keep the sidewalks cleared. Mow the lawn. Paint faded window trim. Use light to your advantage.

■ The Day of Your Showing Turn on all the lights. Consider sound. Quiet is the best policy. It suggests privacy and serenity. Foster a welcoming aroma. Eliminate offensive odors from pets, smoke or cooking. And don't forget fresh air and sunlight.