Now that you've made the decision to sell your home, you'll need to get it ready for marketing and the transfer of ownership. To follow are tips in helping you to proceed with the preparation:
Remove all clutter! Removing clutter from the kitchen countertop is one of the most important places to get rid of excess items. You want someone to be able to actually see the countertops, and it will add a more spacious look to your kitchen.
No Clutter! 
• Removing clutter from all rooms is essential.
• You want to create an atmosphere of space and cleanliness!
Begin breaking free from your emotional attachment to your home.
Think of it as cashing in on your investment!
Remove personal photos. Buyers need to imagine this house as their future home. Having your family photos everywhere could cause a potential buyer to feel as if they are trespassing. They need to be able to imagine their family photos in this house.
Remove and pack-up all clothing and shoes that you aren't in need of during the selling process. This will give a more spacious look to your closets as well. You want your closets as neat as they can possibly be; a well organized closet is much more appealing to the eyes.
Make needed repairs. Most people want to buy a house that is move-in ready. No one wants to purchase a house that needs a lot of repairs -- not if they are planning to live in it after closing. Buying a house is a major investment. You wouldn't want to buy a house in need of repairs before you could move in, would you?
Does the interior need painting? Paint is a great investment when it comes to sprucing up your home. You should use white or a light earth tone shade throughout the house. Remember, the person that will be looking at your house to buy, probably doesn't have the same taste in color or home décor that you have; therefore it's always best to use a neutral color.
If you don't have a place to store items that you've boxed up, then it would be a good idea to rent a storage building until your home is sold.
Keep the house clean and readily available for viewing. Your realtor will work with you should you prefer your home to be shown on certain days of the week and at certain times of the day. However, it is always best to be as flexible as possible; this will assist your realtor in getting your house sold more quickly.
Setting the right price for your house is imperative -- especially in today's market. The worst mistake you can make is to overprice your house in a buyer's market. There are an abundance of homes for buyers to choose from. Ask yourself this question, why would a buyer pay more for my house, when there are comparable properties in the same area that are listed at an appropriate market price? Your realtor will research the area in which your home is located to find homes that have recently sold and that are comparable to your property. This is not an appraisal! It is a "CMA", Comparative Market Analysis. You and your realtor will discuss the information provided through his or her research, you can then work together to arrive at a price your house should sell for in the current market conditions.
CMA Definition: An informal assessment of a property's market value, usually done to establish a reasonable listing price when a property is placed for sale. The price is established by comparing the property to similar properties that have sold in the area within the past year.
The analysis is normally done by a real estate agent who has easy access to area sales records.
First impressions are very important!
The condition of the yard and exterior of the house will be the determining factor with a buyer as to whether or not they want to take the next step, which is to view the interior of the house; if a person doesn't find the exterior desirable, most likely they will not want to view the interior of the house.
Your home must be inviting!
Seller's Disclosure Statement
Your realtor will provide you with a Seller's Disclosure Statement form. This form must be filled out by the seller. You are required to list any known material defects in the property. Concealing pertinent information regarding known defects is unethical and illegal, because if the buyer had known about the defects, it would have impacted their decision to purchase the property.
** Keep in mind, "The Golden Rule": treat others as you would want to be treated. **
Have your Warranty Deed on hand for the realtor. Your Warranty Deed contains information your realtor needs to help them in preparing your listing.
You will be given a form requesting your loan information. You will need to have your lender to complete this form and return it to your realtor.
A Seller's responsibilities include, maintaining the property in its present condition until closing, making any agreed upon repairs, and having a clear title of the property to pass on to the new owners.
** Remember **
Pricing and Condition of your property are the two most important factors in selling your house.
It is also important that you express to your realtor the amount you expect to net from the sale of your home. This information is necessary for your realtor to assist you in realizing your expectations, or so that you will know before you sell, that your net amount from the sell will not be what you had planned on. Either way, this could effect your decision to sell as well.
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