Why try to tell a prospective buyer how your home could look when you can show them? Taking a little extra time each day to put a shine on your home will show your home to its best advantage will result in a faster sale at a higher price.

Here are some of the things you can do to enhance the sale of your house:

1. The yard and exterior invites buyers. Make sure that your yard is free of debris. Whether you have a natural or manicured style, keep it consistently in tip-top shape.

2. The front door greets the prospects. Make sure it is clean and inviting.

3. Let the sun shine in! Open drapes and curtains to show how cheerful your home can be. On dreary days and before evening showings, turn on every light in the house, including closet lights. If your house is a dark house, consider leaving strategic lights on each morning.

4. Neatness counts! Make up beds, wash dishes, put away clothes, straighten up newspapers, etc. every single day. Advance notice is not possible for all showings.

5. Make closets look bigger. Neat, well-ordered closets show that space is ample. The "cluttered look" always makes a house feel smaller.

6. Comfort level. Keep your heat or air conditioning set at a comfortable temperature for prospects. This is important even if your home is vacant or you are away.

7. Pay attention to details. Loose knobs, sticking doors and other minor flaws detract from your home's value.

8. Kitchens help sell homes. Keep counter tops clear of all but the bare essentials (lack of clear counter top can be perceived as there not being enough space); keep the oven clean (yes, they will peek in!); clear the refrigerator of magnets, papers, etc. (the "cluttered" feeling detracts from your kitchen's orderliness).

9. Bathrooms help sell homes, too. Make this room sparkle, enhance it with clean guest towels and bath mats as you would for a special guest. In most cases, a clear or design-on-clear shower curtain will make the room look bigger & brighter than a darkly colored or patterned one.

10. Display the full value of your attic and basement! Remove all unnecessary articles; perhaps now is the time to start packing some of these items, and have neatly stacked boxes instead of cluttered shelves.

11. Soft music is inviting. Have the intercom or stereo turned to a station of soft background music.

12. Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way - preferably out of the house. Some prospects are uncomfortable around animals; others will want to play with them and miss out on all your home's special features! Pay special attention to pet odors in the house. Air it out often.

13. Three's a crowd. Try to be away or at least go out for a walk when showings occur. Your presence can make a potential buyer feel restrained from talking about the house and keep the buyer from envisioning her/himself as the potential owner.

14. Silence is golden. If you must be present during showings, leave the showings to the salesperson. Don't discuss anything concerning price, terms, possession dates, etc. with the prospective buyer or their agent. If asked a direct question about the house or neighborhood, answer it politely but don't offer any additional information.