I have been extremely lucky so far in my experience when working with sellers.  When I have been hired by sellers and we make our pre-listing Do-To List; my sellers have done everything I suggested and more!

While I am not a Professional Stager - I have worked in this business long enough and have worked with so many buyers; that I know what turns them off in a property.

My confusion is when I show buyers property that clearly are not staged and not ready for anyone to see; let alone sell.  When I see these properties I often wonder - didn't their agent tell them what should be done so they can get top dollar (or even an offer)?  Did these sellers really ignore all the advice given to them or did they not receive any advice? 

Even if your Realtor isn't great at staging - a couple of hours of watching any of a number of TV shows on HGTV; should give you some great ideas!

While every home is different; here are some of my basic to do's:

Curb Appeal: The lawn and yard need to be clean, mowed, and perfect in every way.  Colorful flowering plants should be visible from the street and entrance walk. (If they die before you have an offer - buy new ones - don't leave the dead ones out).

Repairs and property condition: Everything needs to be working. Fix any leaky sinks, loose toilets and seats, replace your a/c filter, the loose shingle, anything inside and out.

Consider repainting : the best return on your investment is fresh paint.  Clean - neutral colors.  An (1) accent wall in a large room is OK; just as long as it isn't too much.  Avoid the "blue room" or the "red room".  Too much of any 1 color is a big turn off for buyers.

Clutter: You have heard this before.  NO clutter! Have no place to put your knick-knacks? Put it in storage. Take down excess pictures, clear off end tables, neaten up book shelves, remove all the stuff from your refrigerator door, remove as much as you from kitchen counters.

Clean and organize: Your home needs to be spotless.  Yes it is a huge pain and of course many folks have pets, kids, etc.  It is a must.  Beds made everyday, no dirty dishes in sink, vacuum every other or every day, towels folded and hung neatly after every shower, toothbrush put away.  Get the picture?

Do not leave out valuables, any financial letters and hide your calendars- little things on your calendar like "movers today" or "new job starts"; may hurt your negotiating position.

Your closets need to be very organized and you need to show to potential buyers there is a lot of space you are not even using.  A closet full to the top makes a buyer worry that there is not enough room for their belongings.

Pre-selling, consider going through your closets and getting rid of clothes you no longer need, or items you don't plan on using.  Donate these items or if you must; pack up and put away in a storage unit.  (You're moving anyway; get an early start on packing un-needed items).  Thin out book shelfs or pack-up and put in storage.

Organize your pantry and kitchen cabinets.  Think of your home as a "Model Home".  It should be ready for a cover story of a magazine.

Deodorize.  Plug in air fresheners, baking soda in carpets before vacuuming; do whatever you have to in order to eliminate smells.  Ask you Realtor or neighbor to come and be honest about your home smells.  Ask for honest feedback and be prepared to fix it.  You don't know how many buyers I have seen walk out of a house simply because of smell.  Of course; watch what you cook while your home is on the market!

Flow: The flow of your home is important.  If you have too much furniture in a room, the room will appear small to a buyer.  Some easy fixes: put in storage, foot stools/rests, CD Racks, small book cases, one of your nightstands, extra end tables, maybe even your coffee table.  Not taking the old chair to the new home? Get rid of it now and don't replace it!

Light: Make sure your windows are clean and remove any extra window treatments that keep out sunlight.  Open blinds, let in the light. For showings, turn on some accent lights - NOT every light in the home, but just enough to make it look good.

These are just some of the basic ideas when getting your home for sale.  These things should be the minimum that your Realtor should be telling you.  If they are not advising you; ask them why?  Perhaps you have very different decorating tastes and no one wants to hurt your feelings. 

You cannot take things personally during this process.  Every home is not as clean as it should be; everyone has clutter; we all have different tastes.  Staging and selling your does often take your "personality" out of the home and makes many sellers feel like it's "not their home anymore".  Well in a way - it isn't.  It is a product. 

These ideas are only phase 1 of real professional staging - but it should give any home seller some basic ideas.

Good luck and happy selling.