Selling a home can be a nerve-wracking time for a homeowner. It suddenly seems that every choice you have made regarding your home is thrown into sharp relief. However, don’t rush into spending money on big projects. Instead, as you prepare your home, focus on these things.

An Up-to-Date Appearance

When you live in a home for a long period, your style and appearance may fall behind the times. This is especially true in the kitchen and bathroom, where clean and up-to-date styles can make or break a sale. The big issue is money. A total renovation of a kitchen could cost thousands of dollars, and it may not be recouped in your final sale. Instead, try cost-effective methods to update your look. Cabinets can have the hardware replaced or maybe repainted for a fraction of the cost of new. Roll-out drawers can add to cabinet space with easy DIY kits, while you can use peel and stick backsplash to quickly modernize your look. A nice, clean faucet can also be a good investment.

It Appeals to the Senses

Having an experience that appeals to the senses of sight and smell is a major plus. It's important to manage the smell of your home to avoid unpleasant odors. Air it out well to get rid of musty or unpleasant smells and find the source of anything unpleasant. Have someone not familiar with your home walk around to ensure you are not missing smells that you have become accustomed to, such as pet odor. Finally, use positive smells from candles, fresheners or classic baked treats to set a positive and inviting experience.

Visually, present a clean home with a fresh appearance. Open blinds and make sure your lights have working bulbs, move furniture away from the walls a bit and add area rugs in larger spaces, even over carpet. Stick some fresh flowers in a vase in a visually important or obvious location such as kitchen counters.

Set a Good First Impression

For a buyer, a first impression goes a long way. You may have a gorgeous interior, but if the rest of the home is a mess, buyers will be scared away. Spruce up your exterior by washing your home’s face and cleaning windows. Consider a fresh and bright paint job to your front door along with fresh flowers planted nearby. Pay extra attention to your entryway as well since this will be the first part of the home a buyer looks at, as well as the first time they will envision themselves living in the home. Remove personal effects such as pictures, shoes or religious iconography. Instead, place potted plants, low tables and more generic but welcoming art or signage.

Getting a home show-ready is no easy feat. For many, simply cleaning and decluttering can be a major effort. However, owners who put extra thought and effort into the appeal of their home, or those that seek professional assistance are most primed to reap greater rewards. It doesn't always make a great investment of time or money to make noticeable changes, and it may just be the thing to get your home sold.

Once your home is looking great, spruce up your marketing with professional photos