Everyone has a favorite pair of old shoes. You know the ones theyre broken in and fit just right. But those old shoes would never get a second look if they were for sale.

The same goes for homes. Those that appear shopworn, like an old pair of shoes, dont appeal to todays buyers.

Your home has only one chance to make a good first impression. The secret to getting the most for your home when you sell is to spend some time, effort, and money beforehand getting it ready to sell. If you make the right improvements today, youll sell faster and pocket more cash tomorrow.

By making market smart improvements, youll come out ahead. Of course, every home can benefit from lots of elbow grease. But you can realize bigger returns when you go a step further with a few best-foot-forward improvements. The secret is NOT to undertake major remodeling projects before you sell. Spending too much on too many projects just drains money out of your pocket.

Before deciding which fix-ups are right for your home, call your real estate specialist. Together you can strategically pick and choose the smartest fix-ups that will really make a difference.

Here are some secrets successful home sellers use to impress prospective buyers and bring a top-dollar sale. Keep in mind the secret is in selecting the smartest makeovers that will have the maximum impact on your homes value and marketability.

- Install a new front door with brass fixtures to make your entry welcoming

- Put in a new flower bed, green up the lawn and replace overgrown bushes in front

- Power wash your siding and deck and repaint the trim

- Redo the roof and gutters to guard against hidden leaks

- Repaint the interior walls using a neutral color to make the whole house shine

- Refinish wood floors to give that new house look

- Reorganize and add closet shelves to make closets function better and appear more spacious