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Maybe you don't have a fairy godmother to come and do all the household tasks for you, but in a slowing real estate market, don't expect to sell your home if it is not in immaculate condition. Maybe you don't have a lot of square footage or a prime lot, but your house can sell before others priced similarly if you take a few tactical steps before you show it. Nothing says "Buy Me" more than a home that is fabulously clean, smells fantastic, and has a neutral color pallet.

Catching the buyer occurs within seconds of viewing your home, and that means from the driveway. Nothing screams "look out! Danger!," more than debris and toys all over the driveway and front entrance. Potential homebuyers don't want to pick their way through landscaping debris or bicycles and toys. The curb appeal of your home is the first, best selling point. Spruce up your landscaping: Trim hedges, weed the flowerbeds, and power wash the driveway and walkways. This involves time and effort more than any additional money.

Make your entryway inviting. Does the front door need paint or the trim need replacing? Remember you are banking on a extraordinary first impression. Your front door should promise a refuge within. It should be inviting and say, "Welcome, come in and sit awhile, relax and leave the weary world behind you."

Your next step should be to make sure everything is meticulously clean. Put away clutter. This could be too many appliances on the kitchen counters, too many pictures hanging on walls, too many knick-knacks on the tables or mantel. Most homes for sale are too cluttered; every piece of your personal regalia prevents the buyers from envisioning their own special things in that place. Do a thorough spring cleaning including floor boards and window sills. Clean out your closets and pack away items you don't immediately need. This will give a more spacious look to your storage areas. Have your carpets professionally cleaned, and have a window cleaning company wash the windows.

Make sure all repairs are done. Any undone maintenance jobs should be completed and cleaned up before you show the house. Don't let a sale slip away because a homebuyer thinks you don't care how the house looks. Fix the broken light fixtures or ceiling fans and replace any frayed electrical cords. You don't want potential home buyers thinking, "They didn't bother to make this place look nice for us to view, so what else don't they care about?"

A new coat of paint works miracles. Not only does paint get dingy looking, it also holds in unpleasant odors. New paint offers that glistening appearance and a clean smell, so select a neutral color pallet that will appeal to everyone and paint the inside of the house. Warm neutral shades of paint invite decorating ideas.

Nothing can stop a clean and pristine house from selling, not even a slowing market. It just takes some time and effort to make your home a quick sell.