So you're getting ready to sell your house. Just thinking about it can be an overwhelming experience.

Should you hire a Realtor? Do a FSBO (for sale by owner) to keep from paying that big commission? Should you spend a lot of money to paint and put in new carpet —at least in the front rooms? Where do you start, and what can you do to make sure you attract a qualified buyer as quickly as possible?

HIRE A PROFESSIONAL. A Realtor who is successfully moving properties in your neighborhood and comes with references will likely get you a better price for your home than you could get on your own. Most nonprofessionals (homeowners) end up losing more in the transaction than the commission they would have paid a professional.

NO RADICAL CHANGES. Should you remodel the kitchen? Replace fixtures in the bathrooms? Probably not, unless they aren't working. Often such updates done to achieve a higher sales price don't pay off. Almost anyone buying your home will want to make their own changes, so you are not likely to recoup your time and money investment. Unless your Realtor recommends major changes like a new roof or exterior paint job, hold off and put your energy into other areas.

APPEARANCE. Curb appeal is the impression your home makes when a potential buyer sees it for the first time.

—Repair cracks in the driveway and on the walkways leading up to your home.

—Keep the landscape neat and tidy. Flowerbeds should be blooming, weed-free and well-cultivated.

—Make sure the home looks freshly painted. A good scrub down might do the trick.

—Keep the garage door closed.

—Make sure garbage cans, tools and outside clutter are completely out of sight.

INSIDE CLUTTER. You want the inside of your home to appear as large as possible. That means the clutter in all of the rooms has to go. And don't stuff it into the closets and cupboards. They need to be clutter-free and neatly organized, too. Motivated buyers look behind every door. Remove most or all of the items from your kitchen and bathroom counters. You want storage areas to look spacious, so take items out of the closets and clear shelves of knickknacks. Pack up your collectibles if they are visually overwhelming. Leave only a few tasteful decorator items on the mantle. Your goal is to create a simplified and calm atmosphere.

Remove signs, pictures or other wall hangings that could be construed as offensive. Remove all the papers, magnets and coupons from the refrigerator. There should be nothing on the ground but floor coverings and furniture.

CLEAN. Soap and water are cheap. The cost to get your house ready to sell will come in terms of time and elbow grease. Your home should be so clean that a Marine sergeant inspecting it with a white glove could not find a single exception.

BATHROOMS. Sanitize and scrub the bathrooms until they sparkle. They can be impeccably clean even if they are old. Shine the faucets and fixtures until they gleam. Leave no water spots. All toothbrushes and products should be out of sight. Clean every trace of soap and scum from the tubs and showers. Clean shower-door tracks with an old toothbrush, removing every trace of gunk.

FLOORS. No matter how old or worn your carpets are, have them professionally steam-cleaned. If you have hard floors, clean, wax, polish or do whatever is necessary to make them glisten. Scrub the corners even if you're sure no one will ever look there.

VERTICAL SURFACES. Clean the baseboards, and scrub the woodwork and walls in every room.

FURNITURE AND FIXTURES. Dust and polish until there isn't a single speck of dust anywhere. Vacuum all upholstered furniture. If you have so much furniture that your rooms appear crowded, move some of it out. Stand back and look at each room through the eyes of a stranger. Rearrange things to give a more pleasing visual impression.

It's been said that you only get one chance to make a good impression. When talking about showing your home for sale, truer words have never been spoken.

Mary invites questions, comments and tips at [email protected], or c/o Everyday Cheapskate, 12340 Seal Beach Blvd., Suite B-416, Seal Beach, CA 90740. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com, a personal finance member website and the author of "Debt-Proof Living," released in 2014. To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.