How to Make Your House Sell Quickly and Profitably

Ever since my husband and I bought our house last summer, I have been paying close attention-largely via HGTV and TLC-to what sells a house, quickly and for a profit. Though we are not "flipping" our house, it is a definite fixer-upper, and since we are only planning on being here for three or four years, everything we do to fix it up is with partial consideration for our wants and needs, but also with a large consideration to what will sell.

I am amazed when I drive by some houses for sale in my area. Rundown exterior and trim, unmanaged landscape, and garbage strewn about are often visible from the road. While we did buy our house with a dumpster in the front yard and wild, over-run bushes, we also paid well under the appraised value. Assuming you are interested in making top dollar and selling quickly, spending some time improving your home's curb appeal is vital, in two instances. The first is the drive-by, those in the market for a home, who see the sign in your yard while passing by, and are immediately enchanted. The second is those who come purposefully to see and consider your house. Never underestimate the importance of first impressions. You want a potential buyer to pull up and say "wow", not "eek".

So you got them hooked with your curb appeal, and they are coming inside. One very important element in preparing a house for sale is the maxim "less is more". There are two facets to this principle:

First, take away the clutter. You are going to be moving soon anyway, so start packing up the extra stuff that sits around: children's toys, DVD and CD collections, magazines, even decorative pieces that you have a ton of, like candles or my growing delft collection. You want buyers to see the ideal house, clean, organized, and clutter-free. While often it is said to remove all personal pictures, I think leaving some family pictures, especially if you are aiming to sell to families, could be helpful. It will enable them to imagine their own families, present or potential. Just do not make them a focal point; rather, they should be in the background. DO clean off the fridge though. A hectic fridge-face makes the whole kitchen feel chaotic.