As an agent with years and years of experience, I can tell you there are 2 important reasons for this:

1. Buyers automatically "discount" the price if a home is messy, cluttered or, worse yet, dirty.  The unspoken assumption is that owners who are careless with the appearance of the home while they are trying to sell it were probably careless about upkeep of the home and its systems.  Then buyers  either make no offer on the property or make a lower price offer.

2. Agents will often put a messy, cluttered home last on the list to show their buyers -- and the buyers may very well make an offer on another home before they get to that messy home.

So here is how to put that "star-in-a-tuxedo" look into your home:

Make it look like Mr. and Mrs. Clean live in your home.  Scrub, vacuum, wash, clean the carpeting -- whatever it takes to make your house sparkle.  

• If you have to hire someone, do it.  It will be well worth the money you spend.  
  
  
• Make sure you attend to the little things -- such as cleaning the bathroom tile grout, polishing the doorknobs, washing the windows and dusting the blinds and the plants.
  
  
• During the time your home is listed for sale, keep up the "clean work".  Vacuum regularly, do the dishes after each meal, make the beds every morning, empty the garbage cans and wastebaskets daily.  Yes, it may be extra work, but it can mean extra dollars in the purchase offers.

Fix it up.  

If there is a light switch that does not work or a faucet that leaks, make sure you have it repaired by a licensed professional.  

Less Is More...money for you

De-clutter and depersonalize your home.  

• Pack up the photos, souvenirs, small pictures and that stack of mail.  After all, you will be moving soon, so you will have to pack everything anyway.
  
  
• Clear off tables, leaving only one object on flat surfaces.  
  
  
• Pack up small appliances in the kitchen and remove everything you can from the counter-tops. 
  
  
• Stow away make-up and other clutter in the bathroom.  Hang fresh towels.
  
  
• Move large furniture out of entry ways and hallways to make those areas seem more spacious.  In fact, if at all possible, you should minimize your furniture throughout your home when you are trying to sell it.  

Paint it mild

Wild wall colors can limit the number of buyers who are interested in your home.  Mild, gentle  colors generally are better. 

$70 worth of a soft pastel paint  -- taupe or pale buttery yellow or a soft beige -- and a few hours of painting can result in offers that are thousands of dollars higher.  Paint the baseboards, the interior doors and window frames white or off-white for a super-clean look.

Believe me, buyers love a home that is "turn key" -- one they can simply move into without a lot of work.

Smells like Mom's kitchen. 

A home that smells clean is good -- one that smells as if Mom just baked cookies with cinnamon is even much, much better. 

• Do not use floral scented room air fresheners.  Surprisingly, many people have negative or allergic reactions to the floral scents.  I've seen buyers turn right around and walk out of a home filled with overwhelming floral air fresheners.  Use the cinnamon or apple pie ones.  Lemon scents are okay, too.
  
  
• If you have pets, you may want to use Febreeze or other air cleaner.  And empty the litter box often.  You may be accustomed to the pet smell but prospective buyers are not.
  
• Smoker's smells are a definite no-no.