What can owners do before selling to increase their home’s value?

A: One of the first items we suggest, without fail, is “declutter, declutter, declutter!” After that, here are some options:

Interior, and if needed, exterior, paint. A coat of a neutral warm white paint will help any home.

Landscaping front and backyards. This can range from minor clean-up, gardening, weeding, to investing in new sod, bark and shrubbery, which can change a tired-looking front yard into an inviting space in one day.

Flooring. If we are fortunate enough to discover hardwood floors under older carpet, we recommend taking up the carpet and refinishing/exposing the hardwood floors. Again, neutral colors are always best if the carpet needs replacing, and try to tie all the rooms together so they flow seamlessly.

Kitchen. Sometimes all that is needed is painting the kitchen cabinets white and installing new hardware. Removing all unneeded objects from the kitchen counters is helpful as well.

Baths. Giving the tile grout a good cleaning, and replacing dated fixtures is important.

Lighting. Switching out outdated light fixtures can make a difference.

The least expensive thing any seller can do before marketing their home is perform a deep cleaning of every surface in the home.

Kathleen Daly, Coldwell Banker, (415) 925-3205, kdaly@cbnorcal.com; Lisa Lange, Coldwell Banker

(415) 464-3318, lisalange@coldwellbanker.com

A: Buyers may take only 10 seconds to form an opinion during an open house, so make it count. The goal as a seller is to be the most memorable house buyers see on a Sunday afternoon.

There are several cost-effective upgrades sellers can do before listing their home. Make small repairs that improve appearance, especially on leaky faucets, broken windows, loose knobs/old fixtures and reglaze sinks and bathtubs.

Adding square footage will add enormous value. If you have unfinished space, get professionals in to add more bedrooms or office space or a bathroom. In a highly dense city where space is limited, any additional space is coveted.

Buyers tend to calculate small projects like these at a much higher price, so do the work ahead of time.

New light fixtures or bright lights in dark rooms are a quick and easy makeover. You want to enhance focal points — artwork, antique furniture, ambience, etc. We know lighting can affect our mood, so add gorgeous sconces or lamps to a room without windows.

Consider switching the use of rooms. Change a kid’s bedroom to an adult’s, an office space to a nursery, a den or a library to a media room. Before doing this, you’ll have to know to whom you are selling, and what the demand is in your area. It’s worth the investigation, as it will pay off when buyers are walking through your house.

Par Hanji, Paragon Real Estate Group, (415) 307-5110, par@parhanji.com A: Our market in southern Marin County is popular for views, exceptional schools and easy access to San Francisco (ferries from Tiburon and Sausalito or a short drive).

After location, the top selling points have to do with the home’s condition. Homes updated or nicely remodeled sell quicker. If not updated, price can be an incentive.

Within the homes, beautiful master suites with spa-like bathrooms and walk-in closets, and modern functional kitchens are high-value items. Family rooms are pluses, as well, along with outdoor access from main rooms in the home. Guest rooms and offices are desirable as well as garages with extra storage or a shop area. Swimming pools are not much of a factor unless they are sunny and protected (harder to do on hillside lots.)

I don’t always tell sellers to undertake upgrades as the work may not be to the buyer’s taste.

However, with a good designer or architect, master and kitchen remodels can pay off. Having remodel plans done before a sale can help bring light to the buyer’s imagination without having to do the actual work.

Bill Smith, Pacific Union Christie’s and

International Real Estate, (415) 435-5593, bill@billsmithrealestate.com