After years of considering a sale, you have finally reached the point of listing your home.
You have likely cleaned out closets and fixed those little things that were never a priority. You may have even spent some money to spruce up your home (and wondered why you waited until you were selling it to do so!).
Before you pat yourself on the back, however, do one final walk around. This time, give it a look as if it is a house that you have NEVER seen before. This is the time to be very critical of that paint color that never really worked or the light fixture that looked better in the store. This is the time to admit the mistakes that you made along the way (and probably learned from) and correct them. The truth is, if it bugs you, it will probably bug a potential buyer, too.
I have a client who recently listed her home. The day I pulled up for the first visit I casually said, 'I would paint the shutters.' She literally stopped in her tracks. 'You are the 2nd person that has said that to me, but I didn't think they were that bad,' she said with a note of 
surprise in her voice.
surprise in her voice.The truth is, they weren't that bad. They just faded into the house. They might as well not have been there at all.
Taking my advice (and that of her friend), she had them painted a complementary color. Now, every time I talk to her, she mentions those shutters in one way or another. I think she was really surprised at what a difference this small, inexpensive change could make in the curb appeal of her home.
If you are not the kind of person that notices and/or cares about details like this, call in some back up. Your listing agent will be able to make recommendations from a marketing perspective, but sometimes it is the people who have spent a lot of time in your house who might give you some insight into things they have always noticed, but never spoken up about (but before you make any big changes, run them by your listing agent to see if they will be worth the money and effort).
Selling a home quickly, and for the most money, is a little bit science, a little bit art and a little bit luck. Make sure you give yourself the best chance by attending to the little things. It will be worth your time and effort!
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