Be a "Snoopy" Seller

Before you put your home on the market,take the time to do a little "snooping" on your neighbors by comparing your home to others on the market and visiting open houses. Visiting a few open houses can give you a better idea of what your home is worth and can highlight needed improvements.

If two or three houses that you visit, for example, have recently redone their roofs or windows, you probably should put those repairs toward the top of your to-do list, so your home doesn't suffer from comparison once you start marketing it.

Visiting open houses also give you the chance to see how to "stage" your home to show its best features. Take notice of what appeals to you as you walk through the house and what little things jump out at you that you may have overlooked in your own home.