Ideally, you’d have as much time as you need to prepare your house for a sale, show it to plenty of interested families and settle on an offer that you’re more than happy with. Realistically, that isn’t always the case. Whether you have to suddenly prepare for triplets, you’re relocating across the country for the job of your dreams or you need to sell before the wintertime rolls around again, homeowners sometimes have to get their house ready and sold in a hurry. Follow these ten tips for prepping your home as quickly as possible.

1.    Repair whatever you can, as soon as you can. A squeaky window, rickety doorknob or busted ceiling light could make or break a sale if buyers want to move in without adding on expenses. Can’t repair the entire HVAC system or replace the peeling wallpaper? Tell buyers they’ll have an allowance to get the work done at no extra cost.

2.    Slap on a fresh coat of paint. You’ll be amazed at how much cleaner and brighter your home looks when the walls have been freshly painted. Your best option is to use a neutral color that the new owners will be able to live with. A brand new coat of lime green paint isn’t going to impress anybody.

3.    Clean everywhere. If you don’t have time to get into every single corner on your own, hire a house cleaner to do the job while you’re at work. However you have to, make sure the house is spotless. This includes the windows, both inside and out.

4.    Get rid of all the clutter you can, even if you have to move it to a storage area while the house is being shown. Homes should look as spacious as possible, even if they’re really small. Throw out or remove whatever clutter you can and arrange the furniture to make each room look as large as it can.

5.    Organize your closets. Homeowners want to know how much storage space the home has. If they see overflowing closets, they’re going to assume there isn’t enough storage in the house.

6.    Light does wonders for a space. Open the blinds and turn on the lights in the home when it’s being shown.

7.    Keep your home smelling sweetly. Food, cigarettes and pets can make a home smell bad, which will have a bad effect on buyers. Keep each room aired out and burn fragrant candles for a welcoming smell. Don’t just mask the smell, though – try to remove it completely.

8.    Staging your home is both easy to do and highly effective when it comes to selling. Flip through magazines to see what makes a home look inviting. Something as simple as fresh flowers on the dining room table or a hardcover book opened on the coffee table can make a room look warm.

9.    Do you have a boring room that you rarely use, like a sparse office? Put a throw blanket in a bright, bold color on the office chair. Color, even a small touch of it, can make a room look modern instead of blank.

10.    Take photos that were taken of your house during different season and place them where buyers will notice them. You’ll showcase that your garden doesn’t just bloom during the spring, but that your home looks cozy during the winter, too.

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Lindsay Pietroluongo is a full-time freelance writer in the Hudson Valley. Her work has appeared in the Poughkeepsie Journal and Chronogram magazine. Lindsay also writes business content and marketing materials for professionals. Visit Lindsay on the Rocks and Poison Apple Ink to learn more. Lindsay can be seen on Hudson Valley Insider each Thursday under the Lifestyle section.