Ask any realtor their number one piece of advice on how to sell a home and each one will tell you to get rid of the clutter.  Although we might be used to the toys scattered through the front yard, and the papers stacked in the corners, buyers don't want to have to try to imagine what your house looks like without all your stuff in it.  They don't want to have to overlook the confusion to try to imagine the house as their own.  Before you put the sign in the yard, follow these essential steps to ensure optimum dollar for your home.

1.Have a Garage Sale/ Rent a Storage Unit:

When preparing to sell your house, getting rid of non-essiental items is key.  Closets and cabinets are full of clothes, dishes, appliances and decorations that haven't been looked at or touched in years.  Now is the chance to make a buck, have a garage sale and make money while you are making space.  If you can't let go of your prized possessions, rent a storage unit.  As you go through each room de-cluttering, box up everything you can live without for a few months and put it in storage.  It may seem unnecessary at the time to spend the money on a unit, but de-cluttering and removing will pay off for you in the end.

2.Take a Look Outside:

Yard equipment parked in the corners, shrubs overgrown against the house and hoses strung out across the lawn only spell out unorganization to a potential buyer.  Pick up the clutter and put it where it goes, mow the lawn and pull the weeds.  Most buyers do a drive-by before they make an appointment to look at your house.  If the yard is a mess with bikes, toys and old cars sitting in the driveway, more than likely they won't waste their time coming in.  Curb appeal is key.  Get ride of the junk, plant some flowers and keep the lawn green.

3. Front Door to a New Home:

The front porch and door into your home must be neat and clean.  The porch should be free of any personal items such as the family's name.  A few potted plants and a beautiful front door will invite the buyer in to their potential new home.

4.Picture Free Living Room:

While we love to see our children's faces in photo frames throughout our house, it is not good to distract buyers with personal photos and décor.  Remove all but a few family photos.  Keep only a few essential pieces of furniture, allowing the buyer to see how much space each room actually has.

5.A Kitchen that Sells:

Nothing is better than a spotless clutter-free kitchen.  The fact is, is that kitchens sell a house, but a buyer won't be able to see past appliances on counter tops, cabinets filled with specialty cookware and pantries full of canned foods. Clean off the counters and clean out the cabinets and pack it all up.  Buyers want cabinet space, the less in the cabinets, the bigger the kitchen looks to them.

6.Public bathrooms:

It is important to understand that as a seller you will be loosing privacy in your home and especially in your bathroom.  Pretend that your private bathroom will be a public bathroom while your home is on the market.  Conceal or remove all personal items.  Toothpastes, soaps, razors and make-up should be placed in containers that can be stored in the back of the cabinet at a moments notice.  All cleaners, toilet bowl brushes and plungers need to be hidden away out of the view of a buyer.

7. Less is more in the bedroom:

Bedrooms should have minimal furniture and decorations.  Leave only a few nice items on the bedside tables and place clean fresh looking linens and pillows on beds.  In children's rooms remove toys and posters and store them.

8.Indispensable closet space:

Closet space is crucial to buyers.  Pack all unnecessary clothing and shoes and store them for the next season.  Put all seasonal clothing in storage and show the buyer how much space you really have.

The key to selling your house for top dollar is de-cluttering and removing all personal items.  See your home as an investment and take the advice from agents that sell homes everyday. You aren't just selling a piece of property to a buyer; you are selling them a dream.