Properly preparing for a real estate listing is a lot more than clearing the yard of that collection of Volvos or moving that pile of People magazines out of the garage. It is time to formulate a plan for the spring. Here are some basics:

UPDATE CURB APPEAL

Remember, the first impression potential buyers get is when they pull up to the house with the Realtor, or more importantly, when they view it on the Internet. Usually the first picture on Realtor.com or Zillow is of the front of the house. The Internet shopper views as many as 100 houses in a day, and you want the viewer to stop on your listing and put it on his or her list for their trip to Jefferson County. Cut back the shrubbery that has taken over; nothing says care better than well-managed vegetation. Carefully edge the lawn, and add stone walkways or trim foliage to define areas and move the eye to the front door. Well-placed hanging plants can really brighten up an otherwise lackluster porch. Artfully located pots with colorful flowering plants can really heighten the visual interest.

DEEP CLEANING

Clean the windows, dust all surfaces, and polish all faucets and brightwork. When cleaning the windows, you may discover that a haze has formed between the panes of glass. Check your warranty, as your windows may be covered and you can have them replaced free of charge. If you don’t have a warranty, there are do-it-yourself kits for removing the condensation between the panes of glass, but take note that some skill is involved so watch the videos on YouTube before attempting this. Clean the carpets and make sure that, in the process, you rid the house of animal smells. Nothing turns off a buyer than a house that smells like a kennel. Small dishes of white vinegar may remedy this.

PAINTING

Repaint the walls with neutral colors. As much as you may love your lime green wall in the dining room, it has got to go. Paint the walls with off-whites and tans – don’t let a bright color distract buyers. If the exterior paint is in bad shape, repainting is a must, but stay with neutral colors.

CLEAR CLUTTER

Not having your rooms resemble an episode of “Hoarders” isn’t good enough – when in doubt, throw it out and organize what’s left. Clutter not only hides the lines of the room, but also the furniture. There’s nothing like other people’s clutter to remind potential buyers that it is not their home.

Get rid of personal items, such as family photos. Rid the house of sports or political memorabilia; you never know who is a fan of what and how seriously they take it.

KEEP IT LIGHT & OPEN

Before a showing of your home, make sure that the window shades are up and the drapes are drawn. If there is not enough natural light provided by the windows and skylights, you may have to supplement with lighting. Soft, diffused light bouncing off those freshly painted, lighter tone walls will help.

If you are living in the house, rearrange and thin out the existing furniture. This truly is a case of less is more. Make sure there is a clear path through rooms. If you have to dodge furniture to navigate the room, it is too cluttered. For example, if a large couch is blocking a natural path from the living room to the kitchen or dining room, reposition the couch. You may want to sell, store or throw away any items that add to the clutter or make the house look smaller. You’re going to be moving when you sell the house anyway, so prepare for that eventuality while you are showing the house.

PROPER STAGING

If the house is vacant, staging can be vital to elicit a mood or feeling to an otherwise empty, stark room. A creative approach to staging can produce a theme in a room without filling it up. Consider an empty house to be a blank slate. You may want to ask your Realtor to whom they might market that house; then have your stager tailor the look to that market.

FIX LITTLE THINGS

Tighten up that loose doorknob. It would be embarrassing if it came off in a potential buyer’s hand during a showing. Dripping faucets, loose hinges and that squeaky board on the deck must be fixed. This tells the buyer that the home has had ongoing maintenance.

Follow these instructions and your home will sell much quicker.

(Steve Crosland, president of the Jefferson County Association of Realtors, works at Windermere Port Townsend.)