You want the maximum amount for your home, but you don’t know where to start. Well, you’re not alone. Here’s what savvy homeowners do to prepare for an appraisal.

Clean Your Home

You might like the “lived in” look, but it’s not what sells. If your house is on the market, a bright and shiny home can attract buyers. And, keep this in mind: A house can never be too clean. If you were the buyer, would you want to walk into a home that’s dingy or a home that’s sparkling clean?

By making house cleaning a priority, you’re doing a few things. First, you’re staying on top of maintenance issues. You’re spotting potential problems before they become serious. And, you’re also not allowing dirt and junk to build up over time. Things like this are why homeowners battle everything from mold to mildew and bug infestations.

A clean home is also healthier for you and your family. Remember, de-cluttering is a form of cleaning. Just like dirt builds up, clutter builds up too. Don’t waste money moving your junk around into a storage facility. Get it out of there.

When it’s time to sell, you’ll feel much better about what you’re showing to the buyer and the agent.

Check Your Curb Appeal

Making your home look nice has other benefits, too. Want a fresh perspective on the value of your house? Walk down the street and turn around. Look at your home. Does it have curb appeal? What does it look like? Would you buy it again if it were for sale right this very moment?

Ask a friend or a relative. If they wouldn’t buy it, it’s probably because you need to up the curb appeal of the home. Clean it. Repaint it. Fix the gutters.

Remodel The Kitchen

There are lots of ways you can fix up a home, but one of the best investments is the kitchen. New home buyers often look at the kitchen as a major selling point. For people who like to cook, it can make or break the sale. If you’re not a person who likes to cook, you’ll have to set your personal biases aside for a moment and think like your ideal buyer.

They might like cooking. And, you can’t discount that. In fact, it might be the only way to sell your home to a “hot” buyer. If you can’t afford a full remodel, do a mini one. Paint a faux wood finish on your cabinets. Add a splash of color by ripping out the old backsplash and putting a new one in. Put in some tile or accents.

Install stainless steel anything. A lot of homebuyers love stainless steel appliances because they look clean and like they’d last a long time. Plus, a lot of stainless steel appliances are built to last, so there’s an implicit promise on the “look” of the appliance.

Put in a hanging pot rack. You can buy a decent one for about $100, and they’ll transform the way the kitchen looks and its functionality.

Upgrade Your Bathroom

Of all the rooms in your home, the bathroom is the one that probably gets the least amount of attention. Yet, it’s the workhorse. There is a lot of wear and tear on this room. And, when you remodel it, a lot can happen to the sales price of the house.

You can get an idea of what a new bathroom will do for a home by going to this site here EntwistleGreen.co.uk. Take a look at some of the newer bathrooms in the homes for sale. Now, imagine your bathroom looking like one of these. Pretty amazing, right?

Have Safety Equipment Installed And Working

Before you have an appraiser come over, make sure your safety equipment is working properly. This might include a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm, home security, and other security features. This is important because an inspector will flag these issues for the new homeowner and it might send the wrong signal to the buyer.

Look For Damage

Before the appraiser finds damage, you should. Does the roof leak? Are there loose floor boards? What about the gutters? If you see seams coming apart, this is not good. If there is rot in your fascia or soffits, then you need to patch it up before an inspector includes it in his report.

Inform The Buyer

Be transparent with the buyer. Let them know that you’ve done upgrades. Not only does this make you an honest seller, it can help you keep the selling price high. They won’t ask for as much of a discount on the price if they know you just replaced the shingles, for example.

Rachel Daniels has years of experience working in the real estate industry. Now a work-at-home Mom to two gorgeous kids under the age of five, she gets pleasure out of sharing her real estate tips online and helping others buy or sell a home.