In the next two sections, we will talk about all the things you can (and should) do to increase the likelihood of a sale — and possibly increase your net proceeds as well. We’ll look at a variety of (mostly) low-cost tactics to enhance your home, inside and out.

Before we go into detail, here’s a quick checklist you can use to plan your approach. We will expand on these topics later. But for now, here’s the short-and-sweet version: Checklist: 11 Ways to Prep Your Home for the Market

1. Make the entrance inviting. A home’s entrance carries significant meaning, both symbolically and structurally. It’s where the homeowner leaves the outside world behind and enters the comfort and sanctuary of home. Treat it accordingly.

2. Remove clutter. Clutter (too many appliances in the kitchen, too many pictures and knickknacks on the tables, etc.) makes a home seem smaller than it is. It can also put too much of a personal touch on the house. Clear away everything but a few, well-placed design elements.

3. Clean, clean and clean some more. As a general rule, you can never clean too much before showing your house. This goes hand in hand with the clutter concept above — the cleaner a house, the easier it is for buyers to see themselves in it. It makes the house mentally “transferable” from owner to buyer. And it just plain looks nice!

4. Freshen up the rooms. Sunlight, fresh paint and a well-placed vase of flowers can do wonders for any room — and for minimal cost.

5. Arrange furniture in a way that maximizes space and creates a smooth traffic flow. It might take some trial-and-error, but the spaciousness you create will be worth it.

6. Perform minor repairs as needed. No matter how trivial it may seem to you, an item needing repair will send a mental message to buyers. “Gosh, if they didn’t care enough to fix that before showing the house, what else have they let go?”

7. Replace outdated fixtures (lights, knobs, etc.). This falls into the “easy fixes with major impact” department. New lighting and fixtures can make an entire room seem new, even if it’s not.

8. Have the carpets professionally cleaned. It’s quick, it doesn’t cost much, and it can give much-needed life to carpet. Even if you think your carpet is fine, give it a try. You’ll see the difference afterward!

9. Empty closets and attics to showcase their storage capacity. Remember, prospective buyers are trying to see themselves in each house they look at. It’s a key determinant on whether they make an offer or scratch the house off their list. Tip: Put half your clothes in a storage unit or in a friend’s house (temporarily). Your closets will seem larger with some emptiness to them.

10. Tidy up the landscaping. Trim the bushes. Mow and water the lawn. Sweep the driveway and walkway. Plant fresh flowers. Most of these things cost you nothing but time, yet they’ll significantly enhance your overall “curb appeal.”

11. “Neutralize” your paint scheme. Colors and color preference are subjective things. One person’s favorite color can make another person gasp. To avoid putting off buyers with dominant colors, play it safe with beige, taupe and other neutrals. Remember, the goal is to help people see themselves in the home.

Now let’s take a closer look at your home’s exterior. Let’s talk about curb appeal.

Curb Appeal
“Curb appeal” is the first impression people get when pulling up in front of your house. It’s their perspective “from the curb,” hence the title. Take curb appeal seriously, because it’s the first and most powerful impression your house will make on potential buyers.

When they pull up in their agent’s car, buyers will see the house and try (or fail) to imagine themselves in it, depending on that first impression. They will imagine themselves coming home after a long day of work and pulling into the driveway.

Will the house give them a sense of satisfaction and joy when they pull in? Will they be proud to have friends and family over? These questions and more will be answered during the first ten seconds. And as the saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression.

Take the Test
Take a notepad out in the street in front of your house. Now imagine you’re a buyer, and you’ve just pulled up in front of the house in your agent’s car. Remember, it’s not your house. It’s just a house you’re thinking of buying. List on your notepad anything that catches your eye — indicate whether it’s a good or bad thing that caught your attention.

If it’s bad, write down exactly what it is that stands out. For instance, if there’s a particular section of siding that could use a wash (or fresh paint), write that down.

Better still, have a friend assist you in the task. Pick somebody known for their “brutal honesty.”

When your list is complete, it will help you formulate a plan for improving your curb appeal. Prioritize the negative things you noticed, putting the most noticeable items at the top. Then write down what you might do to improve each of those items, and get to it!

Curb Appeal Essentials
Every house will have a different level of curb appeal, and the notepad exercise will help you determine your home’s curb appeal. But there are certain recommendations that anyone selling a home can benefit from. Here are a few of those essentials:

Your lawn should be evenly cut, neatly edged and free of brown patches. If you have brown patches, or any other problem with your lawn, address them immediately. Treating a lawn takes time, so you want to put it first on the list.

For example, if some areas are beyond recovery, you may have to put down fresh sod, which needs some time to grow in properly.

Always start with the lawn, and do whatever it takes to make it look its best. Think of the lawn as the canvas upon which the rest of the painting takes shape. You need a solid canvas before you can do anything else.

Other Curb Appeal Ideas

1. Give dull landscaping extra life by planting fresh shrubs or flowers.

2. Check siding, trim and doors for dirt and peeling paint. Wash or touch up as necessary.

3. If the house needs a new paint job, set aside the time for it. Like a healthy lawn, a nice paint job is a must. It can make any home look years younger.

4. If you have a wood fence, consider having it re-stained or painted.

5. Windows are the “eyes” of a house. Clean them until they’re spotless.

6. Have a deck or patio? Arrange the furniture into a nice conversational setting (so the buyers can imagine themselves entertaining).

7. Shine some light on the subject. Proper lighting highlights landscaping features and makes walkways safer at night.

Create a Plan
It’s important not to take on too much at once. You don’t want so many projects that they postpone your ability to show your house. Start small. Develop a checklist of the projects you want to do, and prioritize them by level of importance. That way, if you run out of time or money, you’ll have the biggest projects out of the way first.

Here’s what your list might look like:

Must do:
1. Paint the shutters, garage door and front door.
2. Replace brown patches of grass with fresh sod.
3. Pressure wash driveway and vinyl siding.
If time allows:
1. Plant bright, seasonal flowers.
2. Add landscaping fixtures.
3. Update hardware on front door.
4. New, more attractive mailbox.

Lighting
Most potential buyers will visit during the day. But some people may not be able to visit until the evening, due to work or other circumstances. Also, in the winter months, when it gets dark earlier, you’ll have a higher number of people visiting after sunset.

At night, landscape lighting can make a yard look magical. Pat Simpson, host of HGTV's Before and After and Fix It Up how-to series, recommends low-voltage lighting in key places. Experiment with different lighting placement and angles. Try lighting walkways, or placing lights directly under a tree and shining them upward.

If you don’t want do deal with electrical cords, try solar-panel lights.

Paint to the Rescue
A paint job can do wonders for your home’s exterior. Have a one-story house you’d like to appear taller? Try emphasizing the vertical features. You can do this by painting the doors, shutters and trim in a color that contrasts the siding.

Coordinate Your Colors
Coordinate your home’s exterior by painting the garage, front door and shutters the same color. Have a tool shed or other outdoor structure? Paint it the same scheme as the house.

To Paint … or Not to Paint
While paint can certainly do wonders for your home’s exterior (and interior, to be covered later), don’t automatically assume you need to paint everything. Painting can be time-consuming labor, so always start with the quicker and easier fixes first. They might be all you need.

It’s possible that a good cleaning is all your home needs to shine. So before you go out and buy painting supplies and commit yourself to a longer project, try cleaning the exterior of your house.

For painted wood siding and aluminum siding, use a solution of one cup of detergent and one quart bleach in three gallons of water (be sure to wear gloves and goggles when working with bleach). Vinyl siding is easier to clean. Just sponge it with a mild liquid detergent or car wash concentrate, and then rinse. You’ll be amazed at the difference!

Learn More
Want more tips and strategies for better curb appeal? Visit HGTV’s website (www.hgtv.com) and type “curb appeal” into their search box.

For general home-repair tips and project ideas, visit Lowes’ website (www.lowes.com) and click on the “Project Center” and then “How-to projects.”