I have had the opportunity to represent Buyers in Beverly Hills/West Los Angeles as well as in John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath backyard, the Central Valley – more specifically Tulare/Kings County. Yes, two very distinct ends of the spectrum.

However, the common thread between the two geographical areas, and common throughout the real estate market, is the unique taste of homeowners. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in personalizing a home. BUT! When ready to sell, it is important to bring the home back into a place where others can envision themselves living in.

The deep, Zen red kitchen might not be the right color choice for someone wanting to display the their white, yellow and blue duck knickknack collection. The Sponge Bob border in the kid’s room could be distracting for a potential buyer’s teenage daughter.

No offense, but if you want to sell your property – prepare. It is similar to taking a critical exam. Who would consider walking into an exam unstudied; unregistered and sleepy? The only person who would do such a thing is a person setting themselves up for failure or who has no regard as to the outcome. Selling your home is all about preparation. It's your test.

Selling tips:

* Unclutter your home – remove your family photos, toys, countertop appliances, clothing, etc. Each of these items distracts and, collectively, takes away from the interior's appeal.

* Paint or paint-over: when one lives in a home for awhile, it is easy to overlook the scuff marks or the discoloration of the walls. Moreover, if the walls have been painted to fit a certain decoration scheme – such as a distinct blue to match a country cottage décor, it might not work so well with a Santa Fe design.  A fresh coat of paint gives the interior a facelift and makes it look anew.

* Organize, Organize, Organize…have things in their place and in an orderly fashion. 

* Make the home fragrant: vent the house, use scented candles, open the windows

Remember: the allure of model homes is that they are clutter free, impersonal and orderly – that is why they are model homes. Try to recreate that feel when selling your home.  Doing the legwork will help sell your home and fetch the best price possible.  It is worth the sweat equity!!!

Now...go organize!