Curb appeal is key. Make sure your lawn or garden are well-maintained.

Unclutter. Houses look smaller with a lot of stuff in them. People can't envision themselves living in a place that's full of you. It shouldn't look empty, unless you need to move out early. It should look clean and neutral but lived-in. It should have the potential to look the way the buyer will want it to look after the sale. Some people are looking for a new home because they've outgrown their old one; let them see the space in yours.

Show off your house's best features. If there's a view, clear a straight path to the window. Empty out half of each closet so people can see the space. Give away or throw out old, broken, or excess items; you're probably going to get rid of a lot of them when you move, anyway.

The smell of baked goods says home and comfort to many people. Don't mix up a batch and mess up your kitchen right before a showing. Buy slice-and-bake refrigerated dough from the grocery store. The smell of coffee brewing is welcoming to a lot of people, and a cup may help them pay attention and remember your house. Food is always welcome, especially when buyers are giving up their lunch break to look at houses in a hurry.

There are two kinds of open houses: the brokers' open house, and the general open house for buyers. At the broker's open, your broker sends an open invitation, to every local brokerage firm, inviting brokers and agents to preview the home for their buyers.

A general open house is held usually on the weekend, though weeknight open houses are becoming popular. Anyone can come in and take a look; this can make some homeowners insecure about the safety of their valuables.

Odds are that an open house will not produce the buyer, but it's good exposure.

One way to advertise your open house is in the weekend real estate section of your local newspaper. Your broker should take care of the details, unless you're going FSBO. Your ad should include your address, with directions if your home is hard to find. List the time you plan to have your house open. "All day" can mean through the evening to some people. Include your asking price so people don't spend their time looking at a home too far over their budget. Include a brief description of your home. Don't use so many abbreviations to save space that your ad is incomprehensible to a layperson.

The best advertising is a big "For Sale" sign on your front lawn. Add an "Open House Today" sign on the day of your open house.

Unless you're going the FSBO route, be sure not to be present during the open house. Buyers are often reluctant to take a good look at a property when the owner is around. Even if you need to show the house yourselves, keep your children and pets somewhere else. Kids make a house seem more crowded. They also have a knack for pointing out flaws in the house. Some people are allergic to animals, or just don't like them.

A listing sheet contains all the specifics about your home, such as price, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, lot size, and the year it was built. Buyers  collect them at showings and use them to compare houses. Your listing sheet should be as simple and specific as possible. It's a good idea to include a color photograph of your house. If you listed with us at SCHomeSales.com All you would need to do is, print out your profile sheet for your home from your web browser.

Never do a showing by yourself, especially an open house. Though most people are serious home buyers, sometimes thieves take advantage of the opportunity. Thieves often work in pairs; while you're talking to one person they other may be rifling through your bedroom drawers. Always have at least two people working an open house. Lock up your jewelry and cash.

Safety is especially a concern with lockboxes. Lockboxes allow authorized brokers access to your home when you're not there. This can be very convenient, but it also raises concerns about theft and personal safety.