Appeal to the Senses
Don’t underestimate prospective buyers’ olfactory powers -- the smell is often the first thing they notice when stepping inside your home. If you have pets or someone in your home smokes, the odors can linger and detract from your home’s appeal. You might not notice these smells because you live with them everyday; however, an unchanged kitty litter box or an ashtray filled with cigarette stubs can mean your home will get no further attention.

To eliminate these odors, steam clean your carpet and wash your walls and floors with household cleaners and disinfectants. Always clean up after your pets, and if you have a cat, change the litter box often. Keep your home smelling fresh by burning candles, potpourri or boiling a pot of cinnamon sticks or putting a dab of vanilla on cold light bulbs before turning them on.

Neutralize the Interior
Nothing makes a home look better than a good coat of paint -- and it’s an instant cure for old, outdated wallpaper and colors. This may be the best interior improvement you can make. And remember to choose neutral colors to suggest newness and cleanliness.

The key to a good paint job is adequate preparation; it’s important to patch holes, scrape peeling paint, sand surfaces and put on a primer coat if necessary. Use a premium-quality paint. The results are worth the cost.

An Investment that Pays Back
Carpeting has a major impact on the look of your home, consequently, if yours appear outdated or badly worn, consider replacing it. This will be expensive, but the feeling of newness it creates can make the investment worth it. Concentrate on high-visibility areas first. Professional steam cleaning is an option if your carpet is heavily soiled but still in good condition.

If you live in an older home and have hardwood floors, you may be able to pull up the carpeting and refinish or simply clean and wax the floors for a classic look without the expense of new carpet.

Video on How to Install a Glue-Down Engineered Hardwood Floor
Hardwood flooring adds warmth and beauty to any room, and is also a great way to increase the value of your home. Lowe's home improvement expert Mike Kraft shows you step-by-step how to install engineered hardwood flooring in this informational video. Presented by Real Living; video.realliving.com

Brighten the Inside
Finally, clean those windows! Sparkling windows are a signal to buyers that you care about your home. Repair or replace cracked panes, torn screens, broken sashes and ropes or cords as well. When showing your home, open your curtains to let the light shine in -- especially if the view is nice.