Selling a home involves more than sticking a "For Sale" sign in the front lawn. Once you've made the decision to move, you'll be juggling a long list of tasks, and at times it may feel as though you're making little progress. I've been through the process numerous times, so let me share the tips and shortcuts I discovered along the way. They will help you stay organized, save time, and make the journey as smooth as possible. 

Take inventory

A good first step  is to take a serious look at what you need to keep for your next home. It can be difficult to narrow down possessions, but if ever there were a time to toss, sell, store, or donate some of the unnecessary stuff you own, it's when you are selling your home and moving.

How to make it easier: Remind yourself that reducing belongings makes your packing easier. Decide on your favorite charity that takes donations and find out if they pick up and what their rules are for accepting things. 

Habitat For Humanity's ReStore trucks will pick up certain items on certain days. Contact your local Habitat Store. 

Plan your staging

Now that you've reduced the clutter in the house your staging will be easier and more effective. Maybe even more fun! One step you can take now is to download my eBook, How To Arrange  Furniture, a Guide to Improving Your Home with What You Have.  

How to make it easier: Draft a tentative budget as a first step. Browse decor magazines for inspo, and look at what's trending in the household  aisles at stores like Target and HomeGoods. Decide what pieces of furniture you now own will improve the way your home will look to buyers. Make that furniture the focal point of each room. If possible, decide on one a color scheme for the whole house.  

This bedroom's color scheme is centered on warm greys, cream, and teal -- a color palette that could easily be duplicated throughout the home with fabrics and paint. Photo: BHG   

Choose a Realtor

I always endorse working with a Realtor. The benefits are numerous: expertise, safety, wide exposure, and the guarantee that the process of selling will go smoothly and "by the books." 

How to make it easier: Hire a local agent, one with multiple listings and a good sales record. Don't hire a listing agent who is a relative or friend. Make sure your agent supports your plan to stage your house, and  provides professional photography as part of their service.   

Hire inspectors

I also endorse getting inspections so there are no surprises on the path to closing. Hiring your own home inspector means you can fix problems before your buyer hires an inspector.

To make sure there is no evidence of termites, hire a licensed professional to look for the tell-tale mud tubes, hollow-sounding wood, and discarded wings near windowsills. That way, you can document for your buyer that there is not a termite problem.

If you think you might have a problem with wild animals like squirrels, possums, or raccoons living in your attic, crawlspace or roofline, it's best to have them removed by a wildlife removal service. Any, by the way, if you've ever been bitten by bedbugs (even the nicest hotels can have this problem), zinc oxide sheets will prevent that from happening again. 

How to make this easier: Use reputable services that get good recommendations from friends, neighbors or sources like Nextdoor or local listservs. Or ask your listing agent for the names of inspectors they prefer.     

Get and stay clean 

After you home is staged you'll want to keep it clean for the photographer or videographer. Decide what method of cleaning suits your schedule and style -- the all-at-once marathon, or the do-it-in-small doses approach. I've blogged about my 12 must-have cleaning tools that help you get your home clean with the least amount of effort. Since writing that post, I've learned how helpful a robot vacuum is! If you do some research, you can find one that suits your budget and the size and configuration of your rooms.     

Avoid using cleaning agents that leave a heavy chemical or antiseptic aroma. Don't use products that should be applied only by a professional, like concentrated pest control chemicals, industrial mold removers, and asbestos treatments.

How to make it easier: Encourage family members to tidy up after themselves. Consider hiring a crew or individual for a deep clean so that your job is daily maintenance. Remember that people on a home tour  don't expect to walk into a house that looks like a model home with absolutely no signs of  life. 

People on tour expect to see some evidence that people still live there.  They have seen the photos online of the staged kitchen.

Stage your house

Now you can experiment with rearranging furniture to create sensible paths through your home, paths that make it easy for people on tour to see the room the most flattering way -- comfortable but not crowded. 

Once  you have basic furniture pieces positioned, you can begin rearranging your best decor items -- things like your bed coverings, wall art, plants and silk flowers, books, and other props.

How to make it easier: Go online to educate yourself about how other homes selling in your area look inside.         

Get the look, get the book

During what can be a stressful period, it's always a good idea to be kind to yourself. Stay in touch with friends and family. Continue whatever daily routines relax you -- getting outside for a walk, journaling, taking a leisurely bath, or just treating yourself to a cup of your favorite tea. 

Don't leave before you download my home staging eBook, DIY Homestaging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. Take advantage of my years as a real estate investor and home stager.