Your want top dollar for your home, right? Who doesn't? So how can you secure the highest possible price for your home in the shortest amount of time? We'd like to share what the experts recommend. Use the proven strategy that professional marketing executives have known for years - make the product standout!

How in the world do you make your home more appealing than it already is; you might ask? Great question! Let's take a look at ways to make your Listing the most attractive house in the neighborhood.

1. Dress the Home Up - The homes curb appeal will create an instant and irreversible first impression with every buyer. Use this checklist to make sure your home is "dressed for success".

• Refinish or paint the Front Door. Consider also repainting the trim.
• Plant Flowers / Pull Weeds
• Clean the Downspouts and Gutters
• Clean the Screens and Windows
• Pressure Wash the Sidewalk / Driveway
• Mow Grass / Apply New Bark Mulch
• Replace Outside Light Bulbs
• Wash the House Exterior or Paint if Needed
• Clean or Replace House Numbers
• Remove all Cob Webs / Spray for Pests

2. Create a Warm Environment - Every home should offer the potential buyer a warm, friendly experience especially during the first showing. What greets the buyer on the other side of the seller's front door? Things to consider:

• Consider the Smell of the Home / Candles & Vanilla Can Help
• Replace Lights Bulbs, Clean Drapes, Blinds, & Windows
• Professionally Clean Carpets / Replace if Needed
• Paint the Walls or add a few accent colors
• Clean Doors / Cabinets / Closets
• Dust the Home / Remove Cobwebs
• Clean Appliances
• Paint or Clean Baseboards
• Re-Caulk Bathtubs / Showers
• Replace Cracked or Damaged Outlet Covers
• Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.
• A mirror in a nice frame can make a small room appear larger.
• Use as much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps for dark corners

3. Remove Barriers from the Relationship - Buyers need to build an emotional bond with a home before they can make a decision to purchase the home. Help them by removing potential barriers.

• Clear out closets and the clutter - Pack and Store Seasonal Clothing. You can give away or pack up toys, linens and small kitchen appliances and store offsite if need be. Buyers are forgiving though of storage boxes if they are neatly tucked away in the garage.
• Depersonalize the home by removing photos, mementos and dated items
• Try not to have more than 3-collectables or decorative items per shelf
• Remove Unused Furniture
• Secure Pets Before Each Showing
• Remove and Replace Fixtures Not Included with Sale
• Put away large collections and collectables.
• Remove valuables, prescription medicine and breakables
• Make sure there are not any posters or pictures in the children's room that might be offensive to Buyers.
• Sellers should not be home during Showings

4. Tell a Story and Be Interesting - Buyers want a home that stands out from the competition. Does each room in your house tell a story? What can you visualize happening in each room as you walk through the home? This is often referred to as "staging the home". Here are some suggestions:

• Set the Kitchen Table
• Turn Down the Master Bed / Place a Book on Nightstand
• Display an Open Game in the Kids Room
• Turn on Fireplace in Living Room
• Turn on Soft Music or Display a Family DVD near the Entertainment Center

5. Use Accessories - The smallest items can often turn the buyer on to your listing. For instance; consider organizing a mix of critical information the buyer may need to move forward with a purchase in addition to some warm and fuzzy items. Examples include:

• Disclosure Statements (if required)
• Flyers of the Home
• Plat Maps and Tax Information
• Average Utility Costs
• Local Service Provider List
• Warranty Information
• Why We Love this Home - A Letter From the Seller
• Photos of the Home From Different Seasons

6. Open Up the Dark Areas - Buyers want to know everything about a home before they decide to move forward. In most cases this means they want to view every area of the home. By making this easier you may be able to position your home as the most appealing match to the buyer needs. For example:

• Unlock and Open All Areas of the Home
• Clean the Garage / Sweep / and Pressure Wash
• Unlock Outside Buildings Including Shops
• Clean Out Closets / Pantry
• Provide Access to the Attic

So there you have it, 6-ways to make your home more appealing even in a hot market. Taken separately, each item may seem like a small insignificant issue barely worth mentioning, but taken as a whole this list may be just the ticket to attracting a high quality Buyer for your home.