Before you put your home on the market, any successful real estate agent will tell you the most important thing to do is to get your home in the best possible condition to impress buyers, agents, appraisers and inspectors.

Taking care of how your home looks and functions will be the biggest bargaining chip you hold in the selling process. But be careful not to invest so much in your home that you stand little or no chance of recouping what you've spent to impress people.

Take a look at the sections below to make sure your home is primed to get the best possible price out of a future buyer.

Your yard is the buyer's first impression of your home. Take a close look at your yard from the curb and note any necessary changes. Trim branches, keep the grass mowed and put in colorful annuals. Also touch up where paint has faded on your home and put out a new welcome mat.

Make repairs and spruce up your home. Do the following to make sure your home looks desirable:

• Check for leaks, stains or dampness and repair if necessary.
• Check the condition of paint and wallpaper. Paint or re-wallpaper in neutral colors or simple patterns.
• Repair cracks or holes.
• Make sure windows and doors open smoothly.
• Test doorbells and burglar alarms.
• Wash windows and woodwork.
• Clean carpets.
• Inspect for creaking boards, loose tiles or worn areas.
• Check baseboards and moldings.
• Check tile joints, grout and caulking.
• Remove mildew.
• Repair dripping faucet and shower heads.
• Make sure toilets work.
• Wash appliances.
• Remove grease from tiles, walls, cabinets and floors.
• Repair broken switches and outlets.
• Label each circuit or fuse.
• Clear slow-running or clogged drains.
• Check for leaking radiator valves.
• Check for leaking radiator valves.
• Change or clean filters for furnace or air-conditioning.
• Service equipment if needed.

Make your home as spacious as possible. Store extra items in a storage warehouse, if possible, and get rid of clutter. Keep as much light in the home as possible and keep things in order.

Depersonalize your home. Family pictures and other items that are uniquely you may distract the buyers from imagining themselves in your home. Try to keep your home décor neutral.

Prepare for questions. Get out old utility bills, appliance receipts, service records and warranties. Organize them in a folder for easy reference.

Choose whether you want to sell through the For Sale By Owner process or hire a professional real estate agent.

Determining the right price for your home takes an objective evaluation of your property and a realistic assessment of market conditions. You'll sell your home faster if you determine a fair value from the start, rather than asking for an unrealistic price and haggling down to the "right" price.

If possible, consult your real estate attorney before accepting an offer or consider making the contract subject to your attorney's review. Make sure all offers are in writing. Your attorney can help make sure the offer meets other legal requirements. Be precise with your real estate agent, if you have one, about what is and isn't acceptable to you. Make sure that the buyer is financially qualified to fulfill the contract offer by checking the facts the buyer has submitted on a written financial qualifications form. Above all, don't react emotionally to offers that you consider insultingly low. Take time to study offers before presenting what you feel is a fair counter-offer.

To make sure that settlement goes smoothly, be prepared to do the following:

• Consult the escrow officer, settlement agent or closing attorney about issues such as who must sign the new deed, what documents to bring to settlement and homeowners insurance.
• Keep people who need to be at closing informed of any changes in the closing date, time and place.
• Find out when you will be paid.
• If you are buying another property, consider back-to-back settlements at the same office.