I have read a lot of articles on getting your house ready for sale and I think there are a few hints missing. So these tips are not meant to be the only things one should do like price it right  and get a Realtor but is meant to introduce some often overlooked ideas.   When I sold my home in Fallbrook CA, I moved out. That way my dogs were not there with the odors I am used to but other people are not. If you don't have dogs or cats or geikos and can keep your home model perfect then forget this. My father is 95 years old and still building houses. From him I have learned the value of model homes and staging. Therefore it would be smart to move a lot of your furniture and clutter (I know thats valuable stuff to you) even if you have to rent a storage room or garage.   I painted my garage floor with acrylic to eliminate the dog odors and stains that concrete won't give up. Epoxy is another great idea for garage floors and there are plenty of professionals to do it. In fact putting up wallboard and painting is a wonderful idea for garages. Garages are easily overlooked in the getting ready process and is one of the important places a buyer will look at. Clean the garage thoroughly. 

If you don't have enough storage in the home you can add it here. Also look to add walls under stairwells if your home needs more storage.   Take down photographs of family as the buyer will feel uncomfortable invading your home and have a hard time imagining their own family living there   Do not put rugs on top of carpets. Hire a chimney sweep and also a vent cleaner for both dryer and heating vents and ducts.   I am used to the personality of my home such as a backwards faucet or a sticky door lock but these should all be perfect for buyers. Ask your Realtor to look at your home with a critical eye so you can get a different assessment after you think you have made it ready. Some overlooked areas are stains, dirty corners, dirty screens, dripping faucets, stained under the sinks cabinets. Overgrown landscaping may seem like tropical paradise to you but to a buyer it looks like extra maintenance.Clean everything and once a week go look for dead bugs in the window sills. UGH!  

Provide your Realtor with only bottled water for refreshments so potential buyers aren't dripping stains.   Visit a model house and see how the builders do it.   Most of all, I can't stress enough the value of using a Realtor. I recently sold my vacation home in Bellingham WA. where my daughter who is very astute in realty lives and I hired the Realtor who sold it to me . My daughter asked why I didn't sell it myself since I am a Realtor and have her up there to help me?. I told her I believe it is most important to get a Realtor that specializes in your neighborhood and knows that states contracts and realty laws. I also offered a 7% commission rather than the standard 6%. It was well worth it. I sold in 2 months in a down market and closed in 30 days. There were some small fix it problems that the Realtors jumped in to get them solved at no cost to me.   

I also use professional painters , window washers, plumbing and electrical contractors and cleaners. Its worth every penny to use a professional. For my list of vendors email me jill@heers.com