One of the most important steps to selling is determining WHY.  Your answer can have a bit impact on determining the best price for your home.
The next big step is meet with a Realtor you trust and discuss your current and future needs.  All of this information helps your Realtor factor your situation into the Comparative Market Analysis ("CMA") to effectively price, list and market your home.  The CMA reflects more than what homes have sold for, it also provides valuable information regarding how long homes take to sell on average, how many are currently on the market, what your direct competition is considered to be, what the "typical" amenities are in your sales range, and what improvements might need to be made to affect the quickest sale and for the highest price possible.
Once you have made the decision to list, keeping your home “show ready” is an important job.  I will walk you through what remedies need to be taken to make your home outshine the competition.  Making your house the most desirable home in the neighborhood is my job.  The following is a checklist to perform each morning to ensure when you  get that call asking for a showing your home is going to sparkle.

• Remove any solicitations or papers left at the entrance to your home.
• Spot check all areas that the usual gathering areas have been cleared of clutter and toys.
• Make sure all beds are made.
• Clean and put away dirty dishes – if there is no time for this, placing them in the dishwasher will work.
• Turn on soft lighting and if possible provide classical music in the background on a low volume
• At night, turn on the porch light.
• Close the garage door.
• Open some windows unless there are noise considerations (weather permitting).
• Remove any ashtrays and evidence of tobacco.
• Eliminate any bad or stale odors. Use air freshener or plug ins, especially if you smoke, have pets, or the house has been sealed for some time. Vanilla is a universally accepted fragrance.
• Be sure your plants have been watered and look healthy.