You’re getting ready to sell your home. You’ve lived in it a few years, and you think it still looks like the day you bought it. But does it? Will a potential buyer look lovingly on your wall color, your well-worn furniture and all your dusty collectibles? Probably not.

Try to look at your home from a different perspective. Maybe the walls could use a fresh coat of paint. Painting is one of the first thing sellers are doing these days to give their homes a fresh look. Neutral colors work best.

While you’re getting ready to paint, you’ll be clearing out excess furniture, old magazines, junk mail, family photos and any collections you may have covering shelves. Clear the countertop of appliances, put away myriad bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the bathroom, and straighten your closets.

Potential buyers want to see how their things will fit in your space, and space is what everyone wants.

A very important item to remember is your pet or pets if you have any. A potential buyer may be allergic to cats or dogs. Be sure to clear pet odors out, clean up any pet messes, and remove food dishes and water bowls.

Then you need to clean, clean and clean some more. If necessary, hire a professional to seek out and clean all dust and dirt.

When your home is fresh, clean and staged, contact a real estate professional at Stacey Driver Real Estate, and they’ll take your home from “Just Listed” to “Sold.”