A recent poll of 2,000 real estate agents found that buyers sellers can add a “return” from two to thirteen percent the cost of staging or preparing their home for sale. First impressions count and it’s important to make your home look its best when it comes time to show.

Make An Entrance: The outside of your home is the first thing buyers see. A freshly painted door and new doormat is a nice welcome. Keep the lawn mowed and weeded, and trees and shrubs trimmed. The landscaping should be cleared of dead brush and overgrown plants. Keep the porch and steps swept.

Conquer The Clutter: Take it one room at a time. Buyers have an easier time envisioning themselves in your home if personal items are removed. Make sure kitchen and bathroom countertops are as clear as possible. Store away extra appliances. Decrease kitchen clutter by removing magnets from the refrigerator. Remove all personal items and photographs.

Eliminate Odors: A recent poll stated that while appearance and cleanliness are important, 53% of buyers said strong odors, such as pet and cigarette smells, had a stronger impact on their impression of a home than overall tidiness and cleanliness, strong wall colors, or an outdated façade and landscaping. Clean up daily after your pets, put cedar chips in the closet, place potpourri in the bathrooms and use air fresheners and deodorizers.

Lighting: One of the ways to make your home warm and inviting is a great lighting design. Replace any non-functioning bulbs in your light fixtures and vanities. Increase the wattage in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms. Aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet. Install dimmers so you can vary light levels according to the time of day and mood.

Improve Security: Household security is a sought-after feature. By taking the simple measure of adding windows locks, new doorknobs and motion sensor lights outside, you can boost the appeal of your home.

Keep It Clean: A clean home is an inviting home: sweep floors, vacuum rugs, wash dirty dishes and put them away, empty waste baskets, fold towels, make beds, organize mail and put away clothes.

Let the Sun Shine In: Natural light is at the top of most buyers’ wish lists. Open all your blinds, draperies and curtains. If there is something blocking a window, move it.

Pay Attention To Details: Buyers prefer to see a home in move-in condition. Simple cosmetic repairs such as fixing peeling wallpaper, touching up the paint on your walls, polishing doorknobs, caulking tubs or replacing cabinet handles can make a difference. A fresh coat of paint goes a long way. Make sure you don’t give the buyers reason to pause by making minor repairs: fix torn screens, drippy faucets, sticky doors and paint and repair gutters.

Less Is More: Create a spacious feeling. Make sure all of the doors, cabinets and drawers open all of the way without bumping into anything or sticking. Move oversized furniture into a storage facility. Make sure the entrances to all rooms have an open flow.

Bring the Outdoors In: Fresh cut flowers add color and great aroma. You can also take clippings of branches or twigs and put them in a large vase in the corner of a room to add height; it’s a great structural piece and doesn’t cost anything.