Even though real estate markets are hot in many areas and it is still a seller's market, to get the highest price possible, you need to get your home ready for sale. Ideally, it would be great to create a biding war with multiple offers to get even more than your list price. For that to happen, you need to do some things. First, get rid of clutter. Your home needs to be neater and cleaner than it has ever been. If you have old furniture you plan to get rid of anyway, donate or sell it now to make your place look bigger.
If you have painted your walls purple, it might be a good idea to paint them a neutral color. I know painting involves some cost or work, but it could pay off in getting you a higher price. And, then there are the smells. If you have indoor pets, there are smells in your home that you don't smell anymore. And, or if you cook with certain spices, you could have the same problem. To get rid of the offensive smells, you have to do a deep clean of any carpets, drapes, upholstered furniture etc. and at a minimum as long as your home is on the market, stop cooking with those spices and or you either need to board your pets, or keep them outside once the cleaning has occurred. This is necessary because the smells are offensive and some people are actually allergic to dogs or cats.
There is the easy stuff related to curb appeal. Plant some flowers to spruce up the front of your home. If you have stained wood work outside, have it stained. Otherwise, paint the front door a bright color. For some reason, blue seems resonate with buyers. Get rid of dead or over grown plants that may be covering a view of your home from the street. The outside of your home will determine if a potential buyer will even get out of the car to see the inside, so spending a few bucks to spruce things up will get you a higher price.
Then there is the tougher stuff. If you have a neighbor on either side of your home whose front yard is an eyesore, having a talk with the neighbor to clean it up should happen. If they won't do it. Offer to pay to have it done. Nobody will buy your home if they see that your neighbor is a slob. If you live in a community with an HOA and rules are being violated, let the HOA handle it. Otherwise, tactfully, you will have to deal with the problem to get the highest price for your home. Doing the things I have listed will not only help you sell your home quicker, in this market, it will get you more money,
