From the day that your house goes on the market to the day it closes, your property needs to be in selling shape. It may take a little getting used to, but you and your family will have to make the transition to thinking about your house as a property and not a home. This is certainly an inconvenience if you're still living in your house, but the eff ort is well worth it.

First, fix it.

Anything that is in your house that is in disrepair and can be easily fixed should be addressed before the home goes up for sale. You'll want to pay particular attention to the front exterior and the most important rooms in the house: the master bedroom, the kitchen, and the living room.

Next, clean it.

Clean, clean and more clean. From the inside out, a clean listing is a happy listing. And remember, it's not good enough to just put things away. Potential buyers will and do open closets and drawers through the house when they're looking at your listing. Be sure to keep personal items that you do not want on display in drawers that are clearly your personal furniture. The more organized you can be, the better.

Last, open it.

Making your house appear as attractive as possible is largely about allowing potential buyers the opportunity to imagine their lives in your property. Professional staging services can help in selling your listing by using design principles and tricks that emphasize space. Creating the appearance of openness and space is key to getting your property sold.

If it's smaller than a grapefruit, it needs to be put away. Get rid of or pack away anything that isn't essential. Everything else that is small but cannot be packed should be put away in a drawer or cabinet during showing appointments.

Limit the number of items on top of any surface to three.

Beware of odors: bad ones and strong ones. It's not just the stinky stuff you need to pay attention to. There are obvious problem points that can produce bad smells like the garbage cans and the disposal, but you should consider any strong smell a bad one. Don't rely on potpourri or air fresheners to mask unpleasant odors. These can be just as off ensive to some buyers. Instead, be sure to open your windows when possible to keep fresh air circulating in the house.

Excerpted from "Guide to selling your home." Please contact Nikki Travaglino to receive your free copy. Mention this article to receive a free professional staging consultation for your home when you list with Nikki Travaglino & Associates.

This advice was provided by Nikki Travaglino & Associates, an award winning team of four realtors and a college intern. All team members have called the Connecticut shoreline home for many years and have been assisting clients with their important real estate investments since 1998. For more information, call 203-415-3053 or email nikkit@williampitt.com.