1. Absolutely the most important thing and the very cheapest is CLEAN. Your house needs to be immaculate. Windows and the window frames. People look at windows and if they are not new windows they should be a least very clean windows with no evidence of mildew. If you cannot afford to replace old carpets, steam clean them. Yes they may replace them anyway, but they may not have the money to do it. Especially right away. No dishes in the kitchen sink. Bathrooms should be spotless with the toilet seats down for showings. Taps should be shiny. Beds all made, etc etc.
2. While you're cleaning, DECLUTTER. Get rid of the piles of stuff. If you truly want to move you need to deal with it anyway. Make piles that go to the dump, Sally Ann, and storage. It is worth renting a storage facility if you have that much stuff. Organize shelves and closets. Buyers don't want to see a cramped house. They want to picture their things there and if they see no space or if they see how you have cramped everything in, it will not appeal to them. Buyer's cannot imagine themselves there.
3. It is important to keep your house smelling good. Fresh flowers and air freshners really help a buyer feel good about the home. Do not cook fish or wild meat or curry. These SMELLS linger and really put someone off when they walk through the front door. Don't go overboard on air freshners though. There are buyers out there with allergies.
4. Next in line would be STAGE. Invest in selling your home. Buy a few nice things to make your house appeal to someone. A nice bedspread, new bathroom carpets, artwork, a nice throw etc. Spruce it up! You can take it all with you for your next home. Tell yourself you have to do this to sell your house if spending the money on these types of things both you.
5. PAINT. Go pick out some earth tones, not just plain beige or white. Go with some color! The local paint store can really help you with a color palette. Use their help and listen. This will brighten your home up and look better maintained because all of the paint chips that are on your wall now will be gone. It also makes the house appear alot cleaner.
6. If your house is really tired, FLOORING. Invest a few thousand dollars and do it. Again, go with earth tones and texture. You will get your money out of it. If you need flooring and don't do it, you can guarantee the buyer is going to try to get you down lower on your price to compensate for it, even if you have already lowered the price.
7. Does your KITCHEN need a face lift. Countertops are very reasonably priced and can do the job. Change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets also helps.
8. Does your BATHROOM also need a face lift. Counterops again will help so much. Bathroom fixtures. A new taps and shower head.
9. LIGHTING in your home is huge. New lighting does wonders for the look of your home at little expense. Brushed nickel lighting fixtures is best or black.
10. When your house has a SCHEDULED SHOWING, leave all the lights on, all of the window coverings open, fresh flowers or air freshners, completing neat and tidy, toilet seats down, keep the house warm on winter days and cool on summers days. Make your house available to show. Be very accomidating, the more people who come through your home the better chance it has to sell!!! Good luck.