You've lived there a long time, loved it (and sometimes hated it), raised the kids, stored your memories. and now comes the season for selling. How to start?
If you have lived there for long enough, you can probably walk through it blindfolded, but it is more than walls and Grandma's favorite painting. It's full of the basic things that make a home work: furnace, roof, water system, windows. Those are the things you should know something about first.
Gather your home records and paperwork so you have some idea how old these items are and how long they are supposed to last. That is what a buyer will want to know and it will affect the price a buyer is willing to pay.
Next, take off that blindfold and walk the house with a critical eye. Look for cracks, stains, and bad paint. Check out the windows. Do they open? Are they in good shape? Look at the floors. Is the finish in good shape?
Look carefully at the doors. They should be clean and they should all close easily and tightly. The locks should work. Remember the door is one of the first things a buyer sees.
When you are finished with your inspection you might conclude that some repairs could give you the best return on investment. Certainly a coat of fresh paint always helps.
If you are planning to sell quickly, do everything you can to make your house look its best. If you are looking to sell in some years, you might do some renovations that you can enjoy until then.