Clean up the yard. Cut back overgrown shrubs, particularly those that obscure windows or make it difficult to get to the front door. Mow the grass. Rake or pick up downed leaves and branches. Put away lawn tools, kids' toys and discard or store any outdoor furniture that is rusty or ragged. Put out some colorful annuals or put a few nicely planted containers on or near the front porch.

De-Clutter! You have heard this a thousand times, but organizing a home is very important and not just to make the place look neat. A cluttered home looks smaller and less airy. All of the pictures, knick-knacks, even an exquisite art collection are distracting to many buyers.  If the living room is jammed with furniture the buyer might not be able to figure out where his own stuff will go.  The rule of thumb: count every item in each room - furniture, books, vases, old birthday cards propped up on the shelf - and pack up or eliminate 50% of them.

Clean your kitchen and bathrooms. The kitchen may be old but it can still sparkle.

Clean the stovetop with a good degreaser and all countertops with whatever it takes to remove stains and discoloration. Wash the front of all cupboards and appliances and keep the floor swept and scrubbed for the life of the listing. De-clutter here too, especially the refrigerator door. Put away countertop appliances, canisters, etc and keep cupboard doors and drawers closed. It is critical that the bathrooms sparkle. Old bathrooms can be charming and a new shower curtain or fresh flowers on the counter may be all you need. Put out your best towels and, if you have young children, please enforce the flush rule. Clean bathrooms are a must.

Now we are getting into the more expensive suggestions, but the next few things will really help you prepare your house to sell if they are needed and you can afford to do them.

Refinish hardwood floors. These are a major selling point when selling your home and sometimes a home's most compelling feature. Often they don't need complete refinishing, just to be roughed up and polyurethaned to obtain that killer shine. If yours are looking tough give a couple of pros a call and check out the price.  A great look could be cheaper than you think!

Paint / Repaint Your Home.  Neutral colors are best for marketing your home for sale.  Often a home will sell under value or sit on the market for months longer than necessary because of loud colors or distracting bold wallpaper.  Don't let a few cans of paint keep you from getting the best price for your home in a timely manner!

Buy, borrow or rent what you need. If your furniture shows the effect of raising five kids or if pets have ruined the rugs and upholstery think about storing or getting rid of your existing furniture and finding just enough more attractive stuff to get by.  A rocker, table lamp and a pile or books in an otherwise bare room gives it the feel of a cozy study and so forth. If you want to go all out there are companies that will rent a roomful or a houseful of furniture on short term contracts. Not cheap, but maybe worth looking into.