Most buyers are lazy.
The last thing a new homeowner wants is another 'to-do' list, Ramsey says. So get the home move-in ready before it hits the market so the buyer can start fresh easily.
That means making all the repairs and replacements that you would demand if you were buying the house today. If you have to walk single file up the walkway, trim the bushes. If the garage door is dented, have that fixed or replaced, Ramsey says. "If you go into a room and say, 'Hmm, I wonder if this carpet is dirty enough to replace?' You have your answer," he says.
First-time sellers are likely selling smaller, starter homes which are popular with first-time buyers and empty-nesters, Ramsey says. Neither group is likely to want to spend weekends tackling the jobs that you avoided.
"From a presentation standpoint, you want them to feel it's turnkey -- ready to go," Ramsey says. "Because your competition is doing that. In this market, it's not just a price war but a beauty contest at the same time."