Spring is right around the corner. With the warming weather, home-buyers come out of hibernation making spring an ideal time to put your house on the market. If you are considering listing your home, you will need to start preparing now. Following these seven steps will speed the sale of your home this spring.

1. Clean Everything
A clean home will allow buyers to picture themselves in the space. This is the chance to remove clutter from your house. The best way to start is to make a list of essential things that need to get done. Once you have a spring cleaning list, recruit your family to help tackle each task individually. Remember to have realistic expectations about the amount of time it will take to clean. It’s usually best to take your time with cleaning. Try spending one weekend doing the garage and the next weekend cleaning the storage unit. By breaking up each task, you won’t become overwhelmed or frustrated.
2. Organize
After cleaning it becomes clear to many homeowners that they are in need of increased organization. By adding a few hooks, shelves, and storage baskets organizing becomes a breeze. Organizational systems make closets and storage spaces appear larger.
3. Repair
Have you been meaning to tighten loose doorknobs, fix a leaky faucet, or replace old lighting fixtures? Now is the time to tackle these tasks. These small things can be a big turn-off to buyers and end up preventing you from getting top dollar for your home.
4. Replace the Ragged
Replace items that may be worn out. Things like your welcome mat, street numbers and mailboxes often get overlooked. These small ticket items are easy to replace with a quick trip to Target or Home Depot.
5. Remove the Clutter
Personal touches make your house feel homey. They also make it hard for buyers to picture themselves living there. Remove any lawn ornaments, personal pictures, children’s artwork and personal effects that you plan to bring with you to your new home. Potential buyers will look through your home thoroughly so make sure to remove piles of shoes and coats from the entry and the mail from the kitchen table.

6. Paint
When living in a house, people decorate and paint in ways that are not always alluring to potential buyers. In order to get the most value out of your home, it is important that buyers can picture themselves living there. Painting a house in neutral shades with white ceilings will make it appear larger and more comforting to buyers. Remember to also repaint trim, molding and the front door if needed. New paint can help your house sell faster.

7. Let the Light Shine
Bright rooms feel warm and inviting whereas dark rooms feel smaller and gloomy. Removing heavy or dark curtains will allow more light to shine in. Also, consider adding mirrors to rooms. The bigger the mirror, the more light you capture. Adding a large mirror at the end of a short hallway will make the room look longer. Additionally, make sure your windows are clean and streak free to maximize the sunshine.