15 Easy Ways to Prep Your House for a Sale

Sabrina Soto, home-staging expert and host of HGTV's Get It Sold, shares her tips on what to do before putting a house on the market. Print out this handy checklist.

• Use "home wash" (a hose attachment that is available at any home improvement store) to clean the outside of the house.
• Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.
• Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint it if needed. Also, replace any outdated exterior lighting fixtures.
• Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.
• Buy a new welcome mat.
• Eliminate half of your belongings - clutter can cost you a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to ask a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.
• Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.
• Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their mental list of post-purchase expenses.
• Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear as large as possible.
• Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors and floors.
• Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.
• Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.
• Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.
• Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.
• Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!