Here are some things to do to prepare your home ready for sale.

1. Clear Clutter. Look at all the things you don’t want. You can have a garage sale or donate many items or simply toss. It is interesting that things seem to go in cycles and even in threes; the last three homes I have sold have all been vacant so there has been no clutter

2. Start to pack now. The process is very slow especially if you have been in your home a long time. One client of mine had been in her home for more than 50 years and it was emotionally and physically difficult to move. The buyers were really understanding and allowed her 30 or more days beyond the escrow close to move out.

3. Have an idea of how much you house will sell for. If you are looking for a fast sale then you may want to be a bit low on the listing price. For the past couple of years Zillow has been excellent for showing market value. You can go to www.zillow.com. to check your homes value.

4. Repair and Improve. I recommend that you go ahead and get a property inspection as soon as you decide to sell. That way you will know every thing, large and small, that needs to be fixed.

5. Be realistic about the price and time it takes to sell. Get a net sheet up front from a Realtor that shows all of the costs involved so that you can see how much cash you can expect from the sale.