I have to tell you that one of the most surprising things I've learned in my young career is that there are sellers out there that don’t really do anything to help make their agent’s job easier. They don’t do anything to the house to make it more saleable. They don’t fix things that need to be fixed. They don’t clean up the yard to give the house more curb appeal. They don’t clean up the inside of the home so buyers can actually focus on the home instead of the underwear on the floor. They don’t do anything! It’s as if once they signed the listing agreement their job was over and the responsibility of getting the property sold fell exclusively on the agent’s shoulders.
There are usually three things that we can control to help make a home more saleable, marketing, price and condition. Miss any of these and selling the home will become much more difficult. Marketing is handled by the agent and his or her broker. Price is determined by coming to a mutual agreement between the sellers and the agent. Finally, the condition of the property is usually the responsibility of the sellers. So do your agents a favor and get your house ready to show and ultimately sell.
I wanted to give some pointers on things sellers can do at the beginning of the listing as well as preparing for a showing.
Exterior: 
- Mow and trim your yard. Keep the grass fertilized and watered.
- Keep your driveway and sidewalks clear of any grass clippings or snow.
- Keep your trees and shrubs trimmed. Keep flower beds edged and free of weeds.
- Make sure the exterior house paint is clean and in good condition, especially the front door.
- Make sure all doors open, shut and lock properly.
- Make sure the roof is in good condition.
- If you have holes in screens or screen doors, replace them.
- Keep all of your exterior lights in working condition.
- Keep clutter out of your yard and driveway. Make sure everything has a place for when it is not in use.
Interior: 
- Make sure the walls are clean and unmarked. If needed, give them a fresh coat of paint with neutral colors.
- Clean all the windows inside and out.
- Make sure all the light fixtures are working.
- Make sure you have no leaks and that the plumbing is working properly.
- Keep the sinks and tubs stain-free and all the faucets in good condition.
- Make sure the caulking around tubs and showers is in good condition.
- If you smoke, quit doing it in the house.
- All clutter removed from closets, attics, basement, garages etc.
- Ask your Realtor what should be boxed up to make your home look more spacious.
Showing Your Home:
When your home is to be shown, we will always attempt to make an appointment with you, giving you as much advance notice as possible. I understand that this is not always enough time to get everything ready, but if you can, try what is below.
During Showings:
- Open all curtains and blinds to let in the light.
- Turn on enough lights to brighten every corner in the house.
- Put away dirty dishes and clean off all countertops.
- Make the beds.
- Dust the rooms, vacuum and pick up clutter.
- Turn off TV’s. Soft background music is acceptable.
- It’s best to keep pets out of the house. Even the friendliest pets may become anxious around strangers.
- Put away all valuables such as jewelry and cash, or remove completely.
- Never enter into a conversation with a prospect. Let the agent who is showing the home answer any questions the prospective buyers may have. It is best if you leave while the house is being shown.
- If a prospective buyer comes by unexpectedly without a broker, get their name and phone number. FOR YOUR OWN PROTECTION, DO NOT SHOW THE HOME. Have them call your agent.
There is an article by Elizabeth Weintraub here that goes into even more detail on this subject.
By performing these steps along with the steps performed by your agent, you will be giving your property the best possible chance it has to sell. Remember that we are a team and just like any other team, if one person isn’t doing his or her job, it makes it much more difficult for everyone else. Help us help you. Do your part and GET YOUR HOUSE READY TO SELL!
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