How Much Should You Spend?
In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. Your REALTOR®, who is familiar with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood, can advise you specifically on what improvements need to be made. Don't hesitate to ask for advice.

Curb Appeal - the Exterior
Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to maximize its exterior and interior appeal. Here are important ways to enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal: Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly. Trim hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly. Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling; Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint. Clean and align gutters. Inspect and clean the chimney. Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles. Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking. Considering adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance. Re-seal an asphalt driveway. Keep your garage door closed. Store RVs or old and beaten up teens' jalopies elsewhere while the house is on the market, and apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.

Preparing the Interior
How can you enhance your home’s interior? Clean, clean, clean!! Every crevasse within the home should be spotless and gleaming. Even your normal weekly cleaning can not come close to the quality of clean you need. Remove all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look. Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere. Remove the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea. If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. (I personally prefer Swiss Coffee.) The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum. Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic. Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles. Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems. Repair dripping faucets and showerheads. Spruce up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new window coverings, or a coat of neutral paint.