In order to sell your home in today's market you must strive to put your home's "best face forward". This doesn't necessarily mean having to embark on huge renovations. But it does mean some elbow grease and and eye for detail as you go about getting your home in tip top condition.

#1 De-clutter

Think about bringing out a giant eraser and de-personalizing much of your home through this process of de-clutter. Most of what is involved here, is the removal of extraneous objects and piles so that the architectural or decorative features of your home are highlighted. You want to create a home that is spare and well organized so that potential purchasers can truly imagine themselves living there and are not bombarded by clutter and sentimental objects that do not belong to them - and so have no sentimental value in to the viewer's eye!

So, take a deep breath and remove small nick-knacks, quirky collections, mementos brought back from family trips, family photos and strive to have only a few pictures hanging on the walls. Ensure that they are tasteful, part of a cohesive decor and that they are hung properly, so as to accent a space. Take down all your fridge magnets, flyers and children's drawings on your fridge.

If you have children, their rooms cannot be exempt from the brutal de-cluttering process. Essentially you don't want their rooms to really look like children's rooms. So this may mean setting aside many items into boxes for a while. Explain the whole process to your children. Let them know it is temporary, and perhaps offer a reward for their co-operation.

This de-cluttering process is also a good time to get rid of things you really don't need. Think of it as an early step towards an easier move. Many items you want to be rid of can go to a local charity or can be recycled.

# 2 Clean and Repair

In the aftermath of your de-cluttering you should be able to see your home better and to begin to assess what is in need of repair, cleaning and painting. If you're not game to take on these projects it's best to consider hiring a professional. Attending to these items will be well worth it in terms of the gain you'll get in the resale value of your home.

Empty and clean out drawers, cabinets, kitchens and baths. Make sure to toss out anything unpleasant- and if you haven't de-cluttered here, then go ahead and do so now.

Thoroughly clean your clothing closets in order to make them appear as large and as spacious as possible. Try to edit down your wardrobe by storing what you can live without for a little while. Splurge for some matching hangers.

And as for cleaning and painting, well, be sure to clean every nook and cranny. You want your home to have as much sparkle and newness as possible. And in this vein, a fresh coat of paint will do absolute wonders to lift your home to new heights.

#3 Neutralize Your Color

Think about bringing a harmonious, neutral color pallet into your home by re-painting in neutral tones. Colors, or color families to consider include off whites, calm beiges or soft greens.

When selling your home remember you are trying to make it appear move-in ready and appeal to as broad of an audience as possible.