In order to photograph your home, it should be camera-ready. Beds should be perfectly made, cushions should be straightened, and everything should be put away. Your Web site serves as a resume for your property and you want people to be impressed enough to want to walk inside your door to take a closer look. You want the photos to convey the feeling of well-designed rooms and a home, not look like ads to sell the furniture. When searching online, buyers will often pass over a house if they see something in a photo that they don't like, or if there are no photos at all.

A first impression can make a difference in selling your property. Even if you have a small lot, a little attention can go a long way. Cut overgrown shrubs, and mow the grass. Remove leaves from the ground. Don't leave lawn tools and anything in the yard that can look cluttered such as kids toys. If you have outdoor furniture that is rusty or ragged either remove it or spruce it up with paint and new cushions. Plantings in containers on or near the front porch can add a nice touch.

For showings, open the drapes and blinds to let in as much light as possible. Of course this means that you will have to wash the windows - inside and out. This is one of the cheapest and easiest way to improve the look of your home.

De-cluttering and organizing a home is the best thing you can do to showcase your property. It won't matter how clean your home is if it looks overstuffed. A neat uncluttered home will help the property look roomier, and will also depersonalize the property. Buyers want to see themselves starting a new chapter of the their lives in the home, not taking over yours. Remove all of the pictures and knickknacks. You'll need to pack away these things when you move, so now you'll be ahead of the game. You also might also find that it is easier to keep your home clean for showings with less items.

Don't forget to unclutter storage spaces and closets. Prospective buyers will want to feel like they will have enough room for their belongings. Make sure they can see the back of closets and floor space. Organizing the closets with labeled bins will also help you keep the closet neat during showings.

Remove any excess furniture. The buyer may not be able to see past your belongings to mentally picture their furniture fitting into the space. Also, with buyers considering dollar per square foot, they need to feel like they are getting a lot of house for the money.

Your bedrooms should have a bit of a hotel look to it. Make sure there is space to move around. Crisp solid color sheets sheets on a neatly made bed can give that "never been slept in" look. If your bedroom looks like a bedroom/gym/computer room, move your treadmill and computer to another area of the home if possible.

Thoroughly clean your kitchen and bathrooms to make it sparkle. Clean the stovetop with a good degreaser, all countertops, and the front of all cupboards and appliances. Remove everything from the refrigerator door-especially your magnet collection. Clear horizontal surfaces as much as possible. Get rid of countertop appliances, canisters and anything you do not use on a daily basis. Don't forget the floor must be kept in good shape for showings as well!

The bathrooms need to shine and there should be minimal items on the countertops. A new shower curtain and new towels can go a long way. Some people will look in every crevice of your home, so organizing the cabinets and making sure the toilet and shower are clean is important.

Paint/Repaint if necessary. The faux-paint might have been all the rage when you saw it on the DIY channel, but not all buyers share the same design sense. Neutral colors are best for marketing your home for sale.

Make sure your home doesn't have any pet odors and be aware that last night's fish dinner can have a lingering effect. If you need to counteract odors, make sure to use an odor eliminating product and not a product that can be almost as offensive to buyers, such as powerfully scented potpourri.

Be ready to show at all times. Your flexibility for showings might mean that the right buyer can get into your home and make the offer.