When preparing any property for sale, it's vital that the listing is clean, cleared of living/working accoutrements, and appealing to prospective buyers.

Doing so requires time. Of course, things can always be slapped together in a rush, but this will be stressful to all parties, leave things undone, and ultimately cost time and effort that need not have been spent. Some of the best home tips on selling your house involve taking your time and planning months in advance, if at all possible.

Fix Things Up Before Appraisal

Before you sell your property, it's going to need to be appraised. There may be things in your property that have fallen out of repair, and may not be up to code. Before such an appraisal is commissioned, you should go throughout your house and fix as much of the possible problems as you can.

Unclog all the toilets, replace all the light bulbs, get the walls repainted--especially where furniture has left blank spaces. Shampoo the carpets and have the windows cleaned, and if it's at all possible, have the place fumigated. Did you know even if you don't have an infestation, there are still likely bed bugs in your home? From bug bombs which force bugs to transition properties, to hitchhikers that creep into luggage, it doesn't matter how well you've kept your house, the likelihood is, some pest is in there somewhere. So, if you've got a property in NJ, search for an exterminator of bed bug NJ; that goes the same for anywhere else. But before you get an exterminator, consider several things about them.

They should offer monthly or bi-monthly treatments, depending on severity. Control shouldn't just be against bed bugs. Look for rodent control and other specializations as well, like termite treatment. Property value can tank if there are termites making Swiss Cheese of your supporting wood. Sometimes raccoons, skunks and other creatures can make a home beneath the deck, or in the back of a warehouse. Especially in large, empty spaces, pests like these can become numerous. Listing a property without properly cleaning it of pests is a great way to inconveniently discover that you can't sell for the price you'd like. If you encountered situations like this, then you will need to hire a skunk removal and pest control specialist.

Bed Bug Trap

There are a few ways you can test for certain parasites, vermin, and pests. With Bed Bugs, you just make a cheap Bed Bug trap. You'll know there's a problem when bites start showing up all over you and loved ones. Thankfully, making a trap is fairly straightforward. Use about a quarter packet of yeast, two cups of pure sugar and non-chlorinated water in a 2-liter soda bottle. Cut the top off and invert it to make a funnel, then leave your trap out at night. You can check this process out in detail here.

Horticultural Care

Home tips shouldn't just concern a property's interior. Home tips should take a second and look at its outside, too. Do you have a garden? What kind of condition is it in? What's the lawn look like? How about the hedges? A garden that has gone to seed can be worse than no garden at all, in terms of real estate. Too, varying types of wildlife and pests can accumulate in such a garden. Naturally growing fruits, flowers and vegetables are staples of many animals' diets. Especially with pests like raccoons and cockroaches, decaying flora in an overgrown property are ideal squatting spots.

Value Assurance

To make sure your property sells as house or business should, employ proper pest control, and clean it fully; inside and out.

About the author: Wendy Dessler is a super-connector with OutreachMama, which helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, and networking. She frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing and focuses her efforts on developing customized blogger outreach plans depending on the industry and competition. You can find her here on Twitter.