Are you moving to a new area or ready upgrade to a bigger home? Before you let your imagination run wild and create your new home wish list, there is one big priority that needs to be tackled first. It’s time to sell your current home!

It is vitally important for homeowners to take things seriously when it comes time get a home ready for the real estate market. In a perfect world, you could list your home as-is and get numerous offers right away. Unfortunately, things are not always that easy.

There are several key steps you should take as you prepare to go against other homes for sale, so let’s go through them now.

1. Clean, Clean, Clean.
You should never underestimate the power of a clean home. Even though real estate agents are constantly reminding homebuyers to look past the surface and pay attention to the bones of the house rather than the décor, it is often easier said than done. Plus, if you have neglected to clean your home, potential homebuyers will inevitably begin to wonder if there are other (more significant) things around the home that you have neglected as well.

2. Eliminate Clutter.
While you are deep cleaning your house, take advantage of this time to get organized and throw things away. Homebuyers don’t want to see rooms that are packed to the max with toys, clothes and boxes when they are viewing homes for sale. Instead, clean up the clutter and refresh your living areas so that others can actually see all of the space that exists in your home.

3. Make a Good First Impression.
Now that your home is clean and uncluttered, it is time to make sure things look nice. You only get one chance to make a first impression, so make the effort to get things right. Give your rooms a fresh coat of paint and plant some flowers out front. It is often these little details that help seal the deal.

4. Invest in an Inspection.
While it is important to handle the superficial details of your home, it is even more important to tackle any structural issues that may exist. For around $300 to $700, you can easily have a professional home inspection conducted to expose any problems that you didn’t even realize were there. With the competition from other homes for sale, it is a huge benefit to be proactive and take care of these matters ahead of time. Then, it’s time to fix these problems! Whether you can handle them yourself or you have to call a professional, potential homebuyers will appreciate the fact that you have gone the extra mile to take care of your home.