1. Clean like a demon.
Wash floors, walls, windows, and inside the stove, fridge and cupboards. Tip: Wash window frames to boost natural light, and hang clean drapes. Good-looking windows can be left bare.

2. Get (un)personal.
Take down every single family or personal photo. Leave artwork, but remove personal knick-knacks and clutter. Don’t pare back so much that the room has no personality.

3. Do small repairs.
Re-grout yellowing tilework and replace chipped linoleum. Professionally clean carpets, or rent a steamer and do it yourself.

4. Paint.
A fresh coat of paint is the easiest and most inexpensive way to give your home a facelift. Try these neutral colours from Benjamin Moore (every brand has something similar): Feather Down OC-6, Natural Cream OC-14, Nantucket Grey HC-111 (all $53/gallon). Tip: Buyers will pay more for a freshly painted and decorated house. Save by painting only a few feature walls.

5. Get sorted.
Potential buyers will open closets and cupboards, so pack half of the contents away and organize and colour-coordinate what’s left.

6. Think scents.
You may not notice pet or cigarette odours, but others will. Air the house thoroughly and use odour-neutralizing sprays or scented candles. Remove kitty litter and, during the showing, remove kitty, too. Ditto for Fido.

7. Warm it up.
If you’re showing at night, light a fire for a cozy feel. If it’s daytime, make sure every blind is open and the lights are turned on.

8. Park it.
Organize your garage as much as possible. It might mean hiding your stuff in neat-looking boxes or cabinets. Tip: Built-in storage can increase the resale value of your home.

9. Go green.
Bring in plants and fresh flowers for a sense of life.

Special thanks to home staging expert, Kelly Fallis, of Organized Outcomes, www.organizedoutcomes.ca.

First published in Wish Winter 2008