Here are Ilyce's tips:
- Get serious about cleaning. Scrub the countertops. Organize the drawers. "It is not even clean the way you would clean for your mother-in-law. It is a whole new level of clean," she says. Cobwebs and dust bunnies send the message that the homeowner doesn't care enough to maintain the house, she says.
- Move stuff out. Take clothes out of the closets, books off the bookshelves, and furniture out of every room. Don't go overboard; you don't want your home to look like nobody lives there. You just want it to look bigger, so potential buyers think there is room for all of their stuff. "You want to make your house look sparse," Ilyce says.
- Be willing to invest. While you don't want to gut your kitchen, you probably should spend some money to spruce things up. Paint is relatively cheap. If your rugs are dirty, clean them. If necessary, replace them. "The market is slow in a lot of places," she says. "You have to make that investment."
- Try not to be emotional. "You need to go from a homeowner to a home seller," Ilyce says. "There is an emotional break you have to make." No matter how carefully you inspect your own home, you will miss flaws because you have gotten used to living with them, she says. Ask a friend, neighbor or experienced real estate agent to help.
