1. No Clutter. Throw out old newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small items like figurines and other trinkets. Store clothing that won’t be used in the near future to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. Buyers like to visualize their possessions in the house and that is hard to do when the ocean home is full of clutter.

2. Clean your windows. Pay particular attention to the oceanfront windows. The view will be a big selling point and besides dirty windows are a turn off.

3. Keep everything really clean. Wash fingerprints and dirt from light switch plates. Clean the floors, appliances, dust any furniture. A clean house makes a better first impression and tells buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Put brighter bulbs in light sockets and clean any dirty window treatments like draperies and blinds to make rooms appear brighter, especially dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs. Turn all lights on before buyers come to view the home.

5. Make any repairs that you can find. Minor repairs like door adjustments, torn or missing window screens, caulk on exterior doors and windows and interior counter tops and tubs, broken or missing electrical cover plates, and dripping faucets will make a good first impression. Don’t know what to repair, why not get a sellers home inspection. This will show you what the buyers home inspector would see and give you the opportunity to repair the items before the buyers knows they were ever an issue. You can also market the ocean home as being pre-inspected.

6. Get the most out of your curb appeal. Mow the lawn, trim the shrubbery, rake straw and leaves, and edge the driveway and walks. Plant some bright colored seasonal flowers and place some potted plants near the entry to brighten up the landscape.

7. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

8. Clean dirty gutters.

9. Change the front door hardware and house numbers.

10. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. If carpets are old and need replacing, it is worth while to replace them. The additional price you receive for your house will most likely outweigh the expense. Open the windows to air out the home.

Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an online advertising service that offers Oceanfront Homes and Ocean Homes available in the US and Canada.