Seven things you have to do to sell your home...

1.) Trim and clean up the yard!
Consider the yard as an extension of the house and clean it up! Trim unruly bushes, pull weeds, freshen the mulch and landscaping rock, and keep the lawn mowed. Consider putting in some outdoor lighting to create drama. And if you have a dog, clean up after them every day.

2.) Give your home a freshening up.
Have a friend come over and give your house the "sniff test." Nothing is more off-putting than a smelly house. Empty the garbage, get the dirty dishes out of the sink, run a lemon rind through the garbage disposal, clean the litter box, wash the dogs bedding, have your friend tell you what smells bad in your home.

3.) Paint it earth tones.
Make your house a place that anyone could visualize themselves living in it. This means removing most evidence of your personal taste. Decorate with a rigorous devotion to beige. Neutralize wall colors and furniture. Soften the lighting. Put away your collections.

4.) Remove the dog.
Crating them for showings is not such a good idea. Remove them from the property when you’re not there. A barking dog is extremely distracting when prospects are trying to get a detailed look at your house. Even though he might be contained, his voice will carry. Take him with you if you can, or drop him off at a pet-friendly neighbor’s house and repay her with house-sitting or a similar favor.

5.) "As Is" is for abandoned properties, and do not work on things as you sell.
Do not think "Let the buyers fix the hole in the wall". You may lose a sale over the poor condition of the house. Whenever possible, no matter what the circumstance, your home must be in good working order before you put it on the market. This could take a couple of months, but you need to fix all broken fixtures, change all burned-out light bulbs, repair any flaws in the walls and refresh any paint that needs it.

6.) Personal touch? No- big defect!
Put away your pictures, magazines, books and knickknacks. Buyers will have a have a hard time seeing beyond the pictures of your family. Clear every surface, every side table, every coffee table, the sideboard, the desk and the dining room table. You can put one item in each room, and it should be a plant or a flower arrangement.

7.) Remove extra furniture that clutters the space.
Side tables, footstools and magazine racks- these all have to go! Put a sofa facing the fireplace, and flank it with two chairs and coffee table in between. This will create visual depth and an inviting feeling.