Life used to be simpler. To sell a home in an “up” market, you might be told to “make it homey” with a pot of homemade soup simmering on the stove and a cinnamon-filled apple pie baking in the oven.

In today’s market, soup and a pie won’t get a potential buyer through your front door, much less to the point of signing on the dotted line.

If you want to sell a home today, be prepared for the mother of all house cleanings. And more.

Experts say that you begin by throwing out your emotions. Treat your home as a product to be sold, not the home you retreat to every night. This is easier said than done, but soon, you will be handing over the keys to a new owner. Keep that mental picture in mind and focus forward – on where you will go from here.

Now you’re ready to de-personalize – a favorite word of Realtors. This means storing everything about you – family pictures, those souvenirs from last summer’s vacation, your books and magazines, and your favorite collections. You don’t want a potential buyer to think about you; you want her to think about making this house into her home and putting her own personal touches on these rooms.

Here comes the big one: De-clutter – another favorite word of Realtors. Everyone likes her “stuff,” but now is not the time for it. Store it. Donate it. Toss it. This includes books on book shelves, appliances on kitchen counters, knickknacks on coffee tables. Create the look of open space everywhere, especially the kitchen and especially beneath the sink. Remove extra cleaning supplies, clean the area, and while you’re at it, check for leaks.

Everyone wants to think there is lots of storage space in a house.

Wait a minute, you say. How do I cook? It’s recommended that you put essentials in a box that you can store out of sight. Make sure that closets and cabinets are organized. This gives the impression that an organized person takes care of a house. Here are a few hints from Elizabeth Weintraub at About.com Guide. She recommends: spices in alphabetical order; dishes stacked neatly; handles of coffee mugs facing the same direction; shirts lined up, buttoned, and facing the same way; and shoes lined up.

Remember: This is only for the short-term. The “up” side of this is that when you do sell your home and move, much of the packing will already be behind you.

Unless you have a relative or friend who will let you store, your best option is to rent a storage unit for the excess. Make your rooms look larger by removing the leaves from your dining room table and keeping furniture at a minimum. Store those empty book cases. You’ll also need to store anything that you are not selling – such as window treatments or a unique light fixture. It’s best not to let those be a part of a potential buyer’s expectations.

If you are a smoker with a pet, you have even more work to do. Stop smoking inside and think about an ozone spray to remove odors. Pet odor has to go – dogs, cats, and litter boxes. Empty the box daily and use baking soda. Keep the dog outside as much as possible and sprinkle carpet freshener.

Now you’re ready for paint and repairs. Replace cracked or broken window panes; use WD40 on stuck windows or creaky doors; paint exterior window trim; replace washers in leaky faucets; polish, replace, or re-caulk old sink fixtures; and repair drawers that jam, holes in walls, and cracked flooring or tiles. With fixtures, you want shiny. With walls, you want neutral colors.

All light bulbs should work. Make sure you have good water pressure. Pay particular attention to your front door. Polish the door fixture; repaint the door, if needed. Remove your personal plaque, and display a plush doormat. Try the lock. It should open easily.

Then, of course, there is the cleaning – windows inside and out, the refrigerator, tile grout, carpet, light fixtures. Pressure wash sidewalks and the house itself, if necessary.

You’re totally defeated if you don’t get them past the curb. So, trim, mow, and plant flowers if the season is right. Elizabeth Weintraub of About.com Guide recommends yellow in landscaping because that color evokes a buying emotion. Your yard should be evenly cut, edged, and raked. If time allows, take care of brown spots and fertilize. Consider storing kids’ swing sets and outdoor play equipment to make the yard look larger.

It’s a lot of work but you’re after your best price with the least amount of time on the market. You’re ready to move on. This is the fastest way to get there.

Research by Linda Bailey