Step1
De-clutter: Remove all your personal items and clutters. Maximize your home's potential by showing the square footage of your home. With too much clutter, people will not see the space. It may be a good time to buy moving boxes and start packing up your personal items, then put them in storage. Leave only a few items for you to use daily, like small appliances, clothing and some day-to-day needs. After using your appliances, stow them away neatly to keep your kitchen counter clear so buyers can see the countertops.
Step2
Clean Up: Clean your house from top to bottom. Meticulous buyers would not even enter if they see that the house is dirty an messy. Remove your dirty laundry or wash ad fold them prior to the open house. Mop your kitchen and bathroom floors. Clean the tiles and remove gunk and mildews. Dust your furniture and appliances, and clean your windows with a glass cleaner. A dirty house, to some buyers, is a sign of neglect. Potential buyers would think you are the type who does not take care of the maintenance and care of your home if you cannot even clean up your mess.
If your carpets have seen better days due to foot traffic over the years, have them steam cleaned by professionals, or replace with new ones if you have the budget.
Step3
Re-paint and Refinish: Think of making your home more attractive to a wider range of buyers. Keeping it neutral is more acceptable than going with bold and loud colors. If you like that lime green with orange-yellow, a lot of buyers may not like the same colors. Going beige is safe for almost all buyers.
Refinish old cabinets and wood floors to make them look new again!
Step4
Organize: Clean and organize your cupboards, pantry, laundry and closets. The buyers should see that you have plenty of storage which is something that most buyers want to see. Invest in storage and shelving racks and organizers to help you project that organized look.
Step5
Fix It: If you have a burnt light bulb, replace it. If you have a leaky toilet or faucet, fix it! If any of the built-in appliances are broken, fix them if you can or replace them if you must! Serious home buyers can spot these problems, which can be signs of neglect and future expenses for them. They would tend to take off their list those homes that could be potential money pits. Ask your agent if you need an inspection prior to putting your house up for sale, that way you can already address the things that you need to fix.
Step6
Curb Appeal: They say that you lose half of the potential buyers if your house doesn't look good on the outside. Add curb appeal by mowing your lawn, removing weeds, replacing dead grass and planting flowers. Doing so will attract buyers and will make them want to see more for they know if the outside is great, the inside of the house will, hopefully, be even better.
Step7
Stage: It would be a great idea to stage your home prior to the open house. Proper placement of furniture, adding fresh bedding or linens, as well as adding window treatments, area rugs and accessories can make your home look attractive to buyers.
Step8
Scent: Fresh flowers and scented candles can add a wonderful fresh scent to your home. You can also bake cookies or pies a couple of hours prior to your open house to leave the scent of home cooked food to make your buyers imagine themselves cooking in the kitchen.
Enthusiast 
