All other factors being equal, the home that makes the best visual impression often sells the quickest. Use your common sense as to what a buyer would most like to see.

Start outside the home. Trim your lawn and shrubs. Clean up the yard, including tools and toys, and look for signs that the house might not be well-maintained — things like loose shingles, sagging gutters, cracking caulk on windows and doors, and even peeling paint. If you can afford to dress the home up with new door hardware or seasonal decorations, that helps too.

Inside, the first impression will be of the entryway. Make sure it’s well-lit and welcoming, especially at night. Give visitors a pleasant aroma, a sense of clean carpet and walls, and an attractive, neutral color scheme. A coat of paint is often the best investment to make in a house you’re selling.

In living areas, shoot for a clean but lived-in, cozy atmosphere. Get rid of worn furniture and add lamps if rooms are too dark. Set out fresh flowers or arrange furniture in the most welcoming manner. A critical area for homebuyers is the kitchen. Don’t show your house before the stove and refrigerator are spotless, especially if they will be conveyed to the buyer. Clean eating areas, and make sure that all the appliances work and are squeaky clean. If you wouldn’t be comfortable eating off a counter or table, chances are a buyer won’t be able to imagine it either. Likewise, make sure your bathrooms are spotless. As well as cleaning counters and surfaces, check for rust or lime deposits, which not only look bad but indicate problem plumbing.

Bedrooms are personal areas, and you want to make especially sure they are clean and inviting. Show the true sizes of closets by removing unnecessary items, and make sure the furniture gives the impression of space and comfort.

If you have a recreation room, emphasize its relaxing and fun atmosphere. Show off its flexibility by furniture arrangement, and highlight things like track lighting or ceiling fans, which make rooms like this inviting and comfortable as well.

Your garage may be a storage area or workshop for you, but for prospective buyers, don’t assume they’ll use it the same way. You should have as little clutter as possible there, just a car if possible. Check for oil stains on the cement, ensure strong overhead lighting, andorganize storage or work areas. The same goes for the basement, but here you’ll also want to be on the lookout for mold or dampness, which you may be able to cure with a bag of limestone. Check and clean your water heater and furnace, and make access to these utilities clean and well-lighted.

Even your attic is for sale, and buyers will indeed check it. Clean it too, and light it well if it’s not already. Get rid of anything that you don’t need, and even pack items that you’re going to move anyway. Above all, make sure insulation is adequate and is available for inspection.

How much preparation is too much? Well, any redecoration project before you sell needs examination. It’s difficult if not impossible to anticipate the tastes of prospective buyers. Your best bet is to stick to simple things like fresh paint in a neutral color. Most of all, concentrate on making your house as clean as you can.

It’s possible to over-improve your house for a sale. Some projects may raise your home’s marketability, but if you go overboard, you may end up pricing your home out of the range of other homes in your area. Still, any of your “fixing-up” expenses are deductible from any capital gains you realize on the sale of your house, subject to guidelines.