Most buyers predictably respond to the same things: homes that are clean, tidy, and in good repair. You may want to spruce things up with a new paint job and definitely make sure you address any major repairs that may be needed. Those are expensive items, but what can you do on a smaller scale (and budget) to prepare your home to successfully compete in the real estate market?

There are a number of tried-and-true things you can use to make sure your potential homebuyer sees what you want them to see and overlooks what you want them to miss. Keeping your home in tip-top condition for showings will ensure that your potential homebuyer will offer more money than for a home that isn’t ready.

Always look at a home from the prospective home buyer’s perspective. Be objective and honest with yourself. If something bothers you about your home, chances are it will bother the prospective home buyer as well. Do what you can to eliminate the problem. You want to minimize any negative objections the potential homebuyer might have. Preparing your FSBO home for sale usually means you’ll put some effort into it, so be prepared.

Hold a garage sale before the house is listed. This is a great opportunity to get rid of any clutter and give a prospective home buyer a real view of your home. Clean up and get rid of everything you think you won’t need in your next home. Pack everything you can. However, be sure to find the fine line between clutter and emptiness.

Clean drain gutters. Buyers almost always comment if the gutters are full of leaves and that makes them question other maintenance issues.

Store or organize items that make the yard look messy.

Touch up any exterior paint that needs it, faded or chipped exterior paint is an immediate buyer turn-off. New paint isn’t cheap, but it’s a great way to add curb appeal and increase market value.

Remove debris from the roof, such as tree limbs and leaves. Straighten the television antenna. Untangle or remove exposed cord, phone, or other wiring. Make necessary repairs to worn shingles or cracked surfaces.

Flowering plants and outdoor furniture add to the appeal. Remove any unnecessary items, such as garden equipment. Clean and tidy all visible items, such as an outdoor grill or barbecue. Repair of cracks, missing slats, enclosures and screens.

Swimming pools, hot tubs, saunas, outdoor showers and their pumps and filters must be clean and running smoothly. Make sure sprinkler systems and outside faucets are working properly.

Make your front entrance welcoming. Decorate it, paint the door or buy a new door. It’s the prospective homebuyer’s first impression, so make it a good one. Good curb appeal is a critical part of a successful home sales process. Your goal should be to make homebuyers stop and say ‘Wow!’

Welcome the buyer at the entrance. Fit a new doormat, clean and polish the brass knob and knocker. Put potted flowers on the porch. Make sure the front entry floor is spotlessly clean and the porch and steps are swept. Remember that you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Stimulate the buyer’s imagination by setting the stage. Set the dinner table with your best dinnerware and linens. Take advantage of the warmth and romance of the fireplace. Place a couple of wine glasses and a vase of flowers on the coffee table in front of the fire.

Most prospective homebuyers like an interior with lots of natural light. Start on the exterior by trimming overgrown trees and shrubs to ensure they don’t obscure views or block natural light from windows.

Make sure windows shine, inside and out. Clean your home’s skylights Buyers always inspect skylights and sun tunnels to make sure they aren’t cracked or leaking.

Be ruthless with odors. If there is a smell, your house will not sell. Use cleaners of all kinds to keep the house smelling fresh, but make sure you don’t create a “cleaning agent” smell. Use carpet fresheners, potpourri, room deodorizers, and scented candles. Deodorize kitty litter and scoop out the litter every day. Put cedar chips inside the cabinets. Bake some cookies, place them on the kitchen table.

Create a feeling of spaciousness. Make sure all doors, cabinets, and drawers open fully without hitting or hitting anything. Clean out the hall closet and put out just a few hangers so the buyer can view winter coats. Move any large pieces of furniture to a storage facility or to a friend’s house. Make sure the entrances to all rooms have an open flow.

Place a screen or flower basket in front of a fireplace if it’s not in use. Let the breeze move the sheer curtains on the window. Make sure the interior is visible from the street.

Create counter space. Put those extra appliances away. Put away racks for dishes, soap dishes, and other junk. Reduce kitchen clutter even further by removing magnets, notes and children’s “art” from the refrigerator.

Inspect your home’s closets (potential homebuyers certainly will). Do a general cleaning, put away your wardrobe in the off-season, and remove items to make closets appear more spacious.

Paint interior rooms if they are dirty. Neutral colors are often a preferable option, but don’t feel like you have to cover up an existing dramatic color scheme.

Clean the carpets. Polished hardwood floors. Clean dirty grout and reseal if necessary. Keep all floors spotless.

Make sure all doorknobs and cabinet pulls are clean and working. Consider a new set of kitchen cabinet pulls to make your kitchen more attractive. Sometimes it’s a cheap way to update one of the most important rooms in your home.

Repair of leaky faucets. Make sure toilets flush properly.

Avoid eccentric decoration. Depersonalize your teen’s bedroom, playroom, or other areas by removing posters or any decorative items that could be construed as offensive. Remove beads hanging on doors, clutter in your kids’ room, and anything else that won’t appeal to a potential buyer.

Increase the wattage of light bulbs in the laundry room, kitchen, and bathrooms. For presentations, turn on the lights in each room.

Place photos of the family enjoying their home in different rooms of the house.

Now take a step back. Stand outside your front door, up to 30 feet away, and assess how you feel. Is the house warm and cosy? It feels like home?

If so, then maybe it is for your prospective homebuyer, too.