To make every area of your home tempting to buyers, consider these musts:

Curb appeal:

• Manicured lawn and planting beds (with mulch added to neaten up less-than-perfect zones)
• Handsome planters or boxes with colorful blooms
• Clean, neutral exterior—power wash or paint if needed
• Smoothly functioning door locks, knobs, bell, and latches
• New or spotless house numbers and mailbox
• Good exterior lighting
• Trash and recycling out of sight

Kitchen:

• Countertops clear of all small appliances
• Updated hardware
• Spotless (inside and out) and depersonalized fridge—no magnets, memos, or drawings
• No visible trash cans or recycling bins

Dining Room:

• Bold centerpiece on the table—either a large vase, an orchid, or greenery
• Matching, minimal items in any open or glass shelving pieces, such as a hutch

Living Room:

• Keep-it-simple furniture. You can’t go wrong with a solid off-white linen track arm sofa and a curved or rectangular coffee table. Avoid overstuffed, patterned, or detailed pieces.
• Use slipcovers in white or soft, pale colors on any couch or chair past its prime.

Master bedroom:

• White bedding, with a fluffy white duvet cover. For interest, a gray or blue throw on the bed.
• Large matching lamps
• Soft, neutral area rug
• Minimal clothing in closets (will make them look larger) and no mismatched hangers
• No exercise equipment, laundry baskets, or other extraneous items

Bathrooms:

• Sparkling clean
• Simple and pristine shower curtain
• Rolled-up washcloths and fluffy, white towels
• Simple greenery or single well-groomed plant
• No personal care or grooming products in sight

Secondary bedrooms:

• Neatly made bed
• No toys lying around
• Nothing with your children’s names visible
• No posters on the walls

Backyard:

• Clean, simple, comfortable outdoor furniture