Years ago I heard that expression, "Clean and Green".  It was uttered by a visiting lecturer at our son's preschool; he was talking about getting kids to do what you need them to do.  Keep it simple was his message.  Don't micromanage, at least in the beginning.

He talked about giving his preteen son the chore of cutting the grass.  He instructed him and then left him with the memory phrase of "clean and green".  In that parent's mind, that covered it all, and he is probably quite right.  In cutting a lawn, the job must be done neatly, no wide rows with grass sticking up between the mower paths.  No skipping the edging detailsthat make all the difference.  No forgetting to rake up the grass piles, if that is a problem.  The green part requires a bit more knowledge and perhaps parental guidance.  Why is that patch over there so bare?  Why is the lawn sprouting so many weeds?  What to do about the areas that the dog has ruined....

This clean and green approach can be used to advise sellers in putting the best foot forward in a home sale.  Nothing fancy, just clean and green.  No stuff cluttering the yard, no need for extraneous and time-consuming plantings, no dead plants - please!  A splash of color at the front door in flowerpots or annuals lining the walkway - anyone can manage that.  Now if you want to micromanage, have them paint the entry, spruce up the house numbers and mailbox, change out the lighting fixture and maybe even the screen door.  It is all about curb appeal in the beginning.  But sometimes buyers like to see a little imperfection so they know they can make the property their home; don't stress if it is easily remedied.  That screen door negotiation could be the thing that seals the deal.

Clean and green, and always ready to show.  I learned everything I ever needed to know in kindergarten, or in this case, as a parent in a preschool meeting.  Keep it simple, and sell that house!