Getting you home ready to sell? Here are some tips!

Clean/Replace Blinds ($5-15):

Dirty blinds are an eyesore, and you can easily clean them with a damp cloth. Broken blinds are easy to replace, and make a huge visual difference. Even knotted-up strings, missing wands and crooked hardware can turn off potential buyers. They see the replacements necessary as the result of poor maintenance. Make it easy for them by running to your local hardware store and grabbing some replacement blinds.

Squeaky Doors and Drawers ($7):

Potential buyers will cringe at the sound of a squeaky door or drawer that you’ve totally tuned out. Grab a $7 can of silicone spray from your local hardware store, and spray down all door hinges and drawer tracks.

Make Sure All Lightbulbs Work ($5-20):

Sometimes closet light bulbs, hallway sconces and other little-used light fixtures get overlooked for dead lightbulbs. You may even have to drag out the ladder for tall fixtures, but buyers check every switch, and the difference in lighting will be noticeable. A dead lightbulb is most likely the cause, but potential buyers may think worse electrical problems are at hand.

Freshen the Air ($5-7):

A quick odor-eliminating spray (an unscented spray that eliminates odors) around the house can keep odors at bay. Candles or any scented spray can set off allergies and only mask odors instead of eliminating them.

Pretend Your House is a Hotel (free):

Make the beds, fluff the pillows on beds and couches, and fold blankets and towels neatly. Sweep surfaces and floors clean of clutter.  Neatly arrange all bathroom products, empty the trash, and maybe even put out a fresh hand soap for a spa-like touch.

Corral All Seasonal Decorations (free):

Your eyes probably don’t even see the off-season string of lights in that tree or the unlit Rudolph hiding in the scraggly bushes. But buyers will, so pack up the outdated seasonal touches or throw them out. Even in-season decorations should be kept minimal and easily removable. Dead mums, old pumpkins, past-prime wreaths and garlands all need to be composted or dumped.

Check the Front Door ($10-40):

Most of us don’t use our front doors on a regular basis, so it can become an overlooked area. Make sure the surrounding area is swept and the doorbell works. A new, plain doormat or shiny door knocker can make a nice first impression for buyers. Clean the mailbox, too — it’s often caked in grime and spider-webs.