It is an art and a science to prepare your home for the market in order to make it as appealing as possible to a variety of potential buyers. Heed your selling agent's or professional stager's advice. Here are some tips and tricks that help me help you get the most out of your marketing material. The gist of it is: make it look and smell like no human or pet has ever lived there. Easy enough, right?

The Four D’s and an L 

Dust: make every surface from floor to ceiling shine.

De-clutter: remove non-decorative items from all counter and table tops.

Depersonalize: hide family photos, identifying artifacts, hygiene products, valuables, and cars from the driveway.

De-odorize: empty and hide trashcans. Purchase volcanic stone reusable deodorizing bags and place around the house if necessary.

Lighting: ensure every lightbulb works, interior and exterior, and all ceiling fan blades are turned off. Bonus points if your lightbulbs match in color temperature. Clean windows, remove screens to let in more light, and make sure your blinds function properly and curtains can be neatly opened no matter the season.

Staging Tips:

Exterior:

• Remove cars from the driveway

• Remove visible hoses

• Hide trashcans in the garage, on the street, or by the house mechanics

• Clean up and shovel walkways, driveways, patios, porches, and landscaping

• Remove grill covers

• Consider a potted plant, wreath, or new welcome mat to accent your freshly painted front door

Living Room:

• Avoid catty-corner or diagonal large furniture placement such as couches, beds, or armoires — this limits angles and forces smaller straight-on shots

• Fluff and arrange pillows and throws

• Clear off shelving and surfaces except for decorative items

• Remove kids toys

• Paper and plastic items do not photograph well — hide magazines, newspapers, and remotes

Dining Room:

• Clean and polish the table

• Arrange the chairs

• Choose a runner and centerpiece to accent

• Hide high chairs and boosters

Office:

• Clear desk except for decorative items

• Remove or organize cables

• Turn off monitor and make sure no identifying work-related items are visible

• Consider replacing a large computer chair with something more low profile

• Hide trashcans

Kitchen:

• Clear off all counters except for decorative items

• Make sure decorative items on center islands are low profile so as not to block sight lines — a bowl of fruit rather than a tall vase of flowers

• Remove items and magnets from the fridge

• Hide soaps and paper towels

• Hide kitchen trash, recycling, and compost bins

Bedrooms:

• I shoot toward windows. For the biggest possible angle, try to avoid dressers, wardrobes, and large furniture near the doorframe in secondary bedrooms

• Avoid catty-corner furniture placement

• Remove all items from nightstands and countertops except bedside lamps or decorative items

• Hide phone chargers

• Make sure nothing shows under the bed

• Make your bed

Bathrooms:

• Clear the bathroom of all personal items. If it has touched your skin or any bodily fluid, hide it.

• This includes toothbrushes, hair brushes, toilet brushes, toilet paper, tissues, shampoos, soap, shower caddies, loofahs, bath mats, robes, potty squatties, laundry baskets, and everything else. I will not move your personal items so be sure to do this before I arrive.

• Close toilet lids

• Hide medications and personal items

• Secure jewelry and other valuables

Pets: You and I love your pets, but potential buyers may not. Hide bowls, food, treats, cages, pet beds, cat trees, litter boxes, leashes, and pee pads, and pick up waste in the yard. Hide pet damage on furniture with throws.

Unless requested, I do not shoot inside pantries or secondary closets — hide everything there!