As a licensed Realtor, I walk through many homes that are on the market. Some look great. Others, not so much. If you are planning to sell your home, here are some things you need to pay attention to.

Declutter. Get rid of any items you no longer want or need. I recommend making piles of things to trash, donate and sell. Do this room by room and go through everything! It’s amazing how much stuff we accumulate through the years. Since this can be a daunting chore, give yourself plenty of time to get this accomplished, if at all possible.

Decluttering, part 2. Once you’ve gotten rid of unwanted items, now is the time to pack up those items you still want but don’t need for the time being. The end goal is to make your home look spacious and neat (think sparse!). Remove all excess furniture, collectibles, personal photos and anything that makes the space look cluttered. This includes closets and cabinets! All countertops need to be cleared up also – put away anything you can inside a cabinet or closet, or if you won’t need it for a while, pack it away.

Decluttering, part 3. OK, you think everything looks good. Here is a good way to test it – take photos of each room from several angles. Now, truly look at each photo (you really need to do this on a larger screen than your phone). What looks good and what doesn’t? Do you need to clear more items out? If so, do it!

Now that your home is decluttered, what next? Now is a good time to assess the condition of your home and see if any repairs are necessary. Are there gaps around trim or plumbing fixtures? Re-caulking is cheap and makes things look a lot better! Are your walls scuffed and scratched? How about your ceilings, doors, cabinets and trim? Are any rooms an unusual color? If any of these do not look optimal, a fresh coat of paint may be in order. Yes, painting is a chore, but it can make your space look tons better and is a big bang for your buck. Don’t forget the inside of your closets too. Attention to little details make your home look well-cared for, and potential buyers will notice.

Look over all permanent fixtures in your home – appliances, light fixtures, door knobs, light switches, air conditioner and heater. Is everything in working order? Do windows and doors open and shut easily? Take a good look at your floors. Is the carpet worn? Tiles cracked? Vinyl peeling? Do you have an unusual pattern or color that may turn off potential buyers? If your home needs lots of repairs, you will have to prioritize what needs to be done based on your budget, time and your local real estate market. Your Realtor is a good resource for this – don’t hesitate to ask their opinion on what you should do.

OK, you’ve been working hard decluttering and repairing. Now, it’s time to clean! Everyone has a different definition of what clean means. If you are selling your home, it needs to be REALLY clean, from top to bottom. Roll up your sleeves and let’s get started.

Wipe down all cabinetry and doors. If the insides of your cabinets are dirty, clean them too. Buyers will most likely look in some cabinets and closets, so make sure they look as good as possible. Clean light fixtures and ceiling fans. Replace any burned out light bulbs. Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings and clean the baseboards. I see dirty baseboards all the time, and it can make an otherwise clean home look dirty. Clean your windows inside and out if possible, and don’t forget the windowsills! How do your drapes look? If they look bad and can’t be washed, either replace or just take them down. Clean the blinds – they are easy to overlook.

Be sure to clean all of your appliances, including the microwave, oven, stove/cooktop and dishwasher. What? Look at the edges of your dishwasher door inside and out. If they’ve never been cleaned, they will most likely be gross. Wipe down all countertops and sinks throughout your home. Scrub your bathrooms – nobody wants to see mildew in your tub or shower. Make sure all faucets are sparkling.

Clean out your fireplace. Wipe down light switches and doorknobs. Dust all furniture and any built-ins. Vacuum and mop hard floors; vacuum and shampoo carpets.

Getting your home ready to sell involves sweat equity, and time and money. Getting your home in optimal condition not only makes it look appealing to potential buyers, it pays dividends in how fast it sells and for how much. While these are general guidelines, your local Realtor can give you detailed information on what is best for your situation and your market. Good luck!