Your home may look good from your point of view, but a buyer's perspective can be completely different. So step back and take a fresh look at your home. Here is a quick guide to getting the most objective look at your property.

• Take drive around the block, and try to visualize your home and your neighborhood as if seeing it for the first time. Consider your home's curb appeal; does it need a new coat of paint? Is the driveway stained? Could it use a bit of landscaping?
• Pull into the driveway and take look at your property. Do the flower beds need weeding?
• Take a fresh new look inside. Take a "Walk Through" and Imagine how a real estate agent would describe each room. Look inside every cabinet, open doors, try the bathroom fixtures, turn on light switches. Is everything in good working order? Are there any visible signs of deterioration?
• Make a list of any potential red flags. These are issues that buyers would see. Make another list of the areas that are attractive about the house. Detach from your personal feelings and be as critical as a buyer would be.

Keep in mind that your home has been a great place for you to live. However your home will be compared against other existing homes as well as an array of new homes in and around, currently on the market. If your home is in good condition, you'll be in the running to sell your home at or above market value in today's dynamic real estate market.

Before putting your home on the market, get rid of clutter in every area -- closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, shelves -- everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be sentimental: if you don't use it, lose it. Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of us drag a lot more things through life than we really need.

Do not forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid of clutter -- most of us put too much in too little space, which makes a prospective real estate buyer think your home is too small.

Have a great moving sale with all the stuff you have collected and use the proceeds for paint or whatever other materials you may need for any repair projects. If you just cannot bear to part with certain possessions, store them in the attic or some other place that is out of sight to a potential buyer.

After you have cleared out the clutter, it is time to really clean. Have the carpets professionally cleaned, strip and polish the floors, scour the kitchen and bathrooms, polish the furniture, wash the windows and window coverings, and dust any ceiling fans.

Don't forget the exterior! Paint or pressure wash everything that needs work. Replace damaged roofing, and while you are up there clean out the gutters as well. Be sure to mow the lawn and tidy up any landscaping.

In short, clean everything. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.

Make all the repairs necessary to attract a buyer!

Patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make your entry area really shine. Fix the grout in the bathrooms and tile floors, adjust any doors that sag, fix any scratches on the walls, remove any stains, and be sure to fix plumbing problems. Remember to have your home in top condition before the first buyer appears at your door.

It is a good idea to get all this done before inviting your real estate professional to list your home -- a good agent will advise you on anything you may have missed. If you have friends willing to be brutally honest about what your home needs to sell, invite them over to assess cleaning and repair needs.

There is an alternative to the sweat equity you get from a total fix-up – but it carries a price. An "as-is" sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a buyer will deduct the amount for repairs from your asking price before making an offer.

Regardless of who markets your home, you or your real estate professional, there are other small things you must do to attract buyers. For example, even if it is broad daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights. Open all the interior doors to make your home appear roomier and more welcoming. Be sure to make alternative arrangements for your kids and pets – they are cute, but a prospective buyer will want to see your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure your pet litter pan is clean so the home smells naturally clean and fresh, not like air freshener.

You need to make sure your home is available to be seen by prospective buyers anytime, with as little advanced notice to you as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five minutes, if necessary.

Before you put your home on the market, take a weekend day to check out the competition. You should visit homes with similar prices and in similar neighborhoods. You do not have to go out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new model home in the new development – what you want to achieve is the feel of a new home – clean, uncluttered, and fresh.