If you're selling in spring, clean now!

If you want to sell you home in spring, don't wait until then to clean, do it now!

If you know you want to move by summer, now is not too early to bring somebody in. Now -- not when the tulips are poking from the ground -- is the time to de-clutter, clean, make repairs, get paperwork together and interview real estate agents. Homeowners with a lot of junk can take two to four weeks just to get through this step. You want to make it look sparse, unpersonalized, but not empty. Boxes should be out of sight. Keep workstations or hobby areas such as sewing machines organized and neat.

When cleaning, pay attention to the stairs, molding, windows and appliances. Replace any old or missing light bulbs. Also make sure no light bulbs are burned out. You need to have someone else look at the house, perhaps a home inspector, or a neighbor. A second pair of eyes can see something you've been purposely overlooking for years.

Replacing light fixtures and faucets is a relatively inexpensive way to freshen up rooms. You should consider having the roof inspected and certified to reassure buyers it is in good repair. You should start pulling paperwork together. If there is a mortgage on the property, ask the lender for payoff figures, including any penalties for paying the loan off early. List upgrades and repairs done in the past five years and gather warranties for appliances and the roof; having that information in hand speeds up the process.

I would be happy to come look through your home if you would like.