I worked in real estate for a few years while I was trying to make up my mind what I wanted to do when I grew up. Interest rates were high and the market was flat as were my commissions, but all was not lost. I learned some valuable lessons.

Lesson number 1: Real estate is a great investment with a minimum of risk as long as an investor exercised a modicum of diligence when buying and uses common sense when selling…

Lesson number 2: First impressions count. Prospective home buyers often spend time driving around looking at for sale signs. If a property looks un-kept outside, they often keep on driving without ever seeing the home. So, if you plan on selling your home, dress up the exterior. You’d be surprised what a sell job a bed of petunias, a clean walkway, a painted fence (and the exterior of the home if it needs it), a mowed lawn, and flower laden pots leading up to the front door will do. Except for painting the house, these little niceties are cheap, but they speak volumes. Here’s what they say to a buyer without you or your realtor uttering a word. “The owner of this home has home pride and takes care of the home. I would enjoy living here. It’s beautiful.”

Sorry if I sound sexist, but it’s mostly the women who make the final home buying decision. If she doesn’t like it, it usually doesn’t get bought. With that in mind, if you can help prospective buyers see themselves enjoying the home before ever setting foot in it, you’ve gone a long way toward making the sale.

Lesson number 3: Generally when I showed a home, the woman would check out the kitchen first followed by the master bedroom and bath. The man would head to the garage.

Knowing this, there are a few inexpensive things you can do to help sell the home. A clean kitchen counter free of clutter is one. Shiny new catch pans in the stove and a clean oven. Maybe you’ve noticed the word “clean” mentioned a couple of times. Let me mention it again, clean, clean, clean. It’s the cheapest improvement you can make.

The same goes for the rest of the house, keep it clean and clutter free when you’re trying to sell. Clutter makes a home appear smaller than it is and it makes you, the owner look like a, mmmm, well, you know: slob. You might also want to dress up the master bedroom and bathroom. Buy a new comforter or spread. Put a flower in the bathroom. These are cheap and effective…

Lesson number 4: If you don’t have a workbench in the garage, put one in there and put a few tools on a pegboard backing. You’ve just told the guy gazing into the garage that he has an instant place to work. This touch is appealing to most guys even if they are mechanically challenged, or will never keep their tools organized.