Are you looking to sell your home this season? Getting a home ready to be shown can be a daunting, but necessary step towards making the sale. Our design experts share a few tips on what steps to take before putting your house on the market.

The most obvious — pack up personal photos and books. You want potential buyers to feel like they can picture themselves in your home, which can be hard to do when you’re confronted by a gallery wall of someone else’s family. Kitchens and bathroom counters should also be cleared; consider packing every day items to a box or bin that can be tucked away in a closet or cabinet when the house is being shown.

Nail holes in the wall? Jammed drawers? Ratty bed spread? These small (but noticeable!) details can distract a buyer from the value of your home; it’ll likely take you just one weekend to make a lot of small updates that can make or break a deal. If you made some… unique paint color choices in the past, consider re-painting in a neutral color to make the home appear more universal in style.