One of your most important tasks will be to get your home prepared for viewing. You will have some significant work to do if your home needs freshening up. Much of it you can do yourself, but if professionals are needed, such as painters, plumbers, electricians and landscapers, be prepared to spend a tidy sum to bring your house up to spec.

You will also want to secure a seller's insurance policy that covers replacement of any appliances, plumbing or electrical apparatus for a short period of time following the closing. Your agent can help you find the right policy.

Here's a list of tasks you may need to perform:

1. Repaint inside and out, if possible. Earth tones or neutral colors are best. Bright white for ceilings and graduated darker colors for walls. Repair or replace any broken trim, wallboards, doorknobs or towel racks.


2. Check all appliances, plumbing, natural gas and electricity fixtures to insure that they are in working order. Fix anything that needs repairing, especially faucets and toilets.


3. Clean everything and keep it clean. Clean windows each week and vacuum every other day. Make sure that room deodorizers are charged and functional; floral or wooded scents are best.


4. Weed flower beds, cut grass and edge sidewalks, patios and borders. Also trim trees and shrubs and discard any dead plants or broken limbs. Repair any sidewalk, patio or garage apron damage.


5. Rent power washers to clean sidewalks and driveways.


6. A large selection of potted and hanging plants really improves curb appeal. Use them liberally and include some for inside the home.


7. Your front porch and front door are the first things a potential buyer will see. Be sure porches are clean, outdoor furniture is washed and attractive. Clean the front door frequently, removing fingerprints. Have a small can of touch-up paint to repair any dings or grease that won't budge in cleaning.


8. Make sure all outer window and door screens are clean and undamaged.


9. Check all the bricks on your house for dry and crumbly mortar; use mortar repair kits from the hardware store to repair any damage. You may also want to power wash your bricks to remove dirt and animal debris.


10. Most modern homes are built upon concrete slabs so there should be no problems with floors. However, homes with pier and beam foundations frequently have floor sag and wall alignment problems. Most foundation repair firms will check your house for free and report any problems. If you have floor or wall problems due to a pier and beam foundation, you'll have to do repairs or be willing to significantly discount your selling price.


11. Keep bathrooms and kitchens scrupulously clean and organized. They are often the final determiners for buyers when deciding to make an offer.


12. Untidy bedrooms, unmade beds, closets stuffed to overflowing and toys scattered throughout the house may be a comfortable lifestyle for you, but when selling a home, all of this needs to be addressed. Keep it clean and tidy, and store toys in plastic containers that can be quickly put out of sight. Store or donate old clothing to reduce closet clutter. Always make up the beds and keep clean towels and wash cloths in bathrooms.


13. Reduce room clutter by removing extra chairs, fold-up card tables and stacks of magazines or books. Stow CDs and DVDs in cabinets or drawers. If you have a home office, be sure it is clean and well-organized. Put away all paperwork, computer disks and pens and pencils.


14. Inspect your hallways and corners at least once a week and remove any cobwebs or spider webs.


15. Have a professional pest control firm spray your house before it goes on the selling block. In hotter climates, have them check your yard for fleas and ticks and spray accordingly.


16. If your garage has become a catchall for old, broken furniture, boxes of old clothes, busted TVs and other items, mercilessly dispose of the junk by calling a local charity or collect it all and store it in a rented storage facility. If you have lots of tools in the garage, clean and organize them.


17. External security lighting is a strong selling point. If you have outdoor lights be sure they're working. If you don't have any, consider adding them.


18. Hire a professional decorator if you can afford it. Decorators will re-arrange and spiff up a house to illuminate the best features, and their costs may gain you significant increases on the selling price.