Even when you are not selling your home it pays to maintain it well. Your home becomes more functional and it becomes more attractive. For instance, if you have a well maintained lawn people would be impressed of your yard. If you clean kitchen sinks and the bathroom regularly, it would be easier to clean them always especially come selling time.   If you are selling your home, make sure that your home is as presentable as a model house. You should get rid of the clutter inside at once. You can do so not just by getting rid of the obvious clutter but of your personal things as well. You should also get rid of old and unattractive furniture. And then clean the whole place inside and out too. Your house should look new if possible. So, even the appliances need to look clean and shiny. There should not be any visible dust and dirt anywhere.   If there is a visible damage like a crack on the wall or on the ceiling, it should be patched and painted to make the place look great. If you are going to show the house to potential buyers, it would help to use light bulbs with higher wattage to make the house look brighter and more spacious. Before showing a buyer your house, you can check the overall impression your home will get by taking photos. This will give you a fresh perspective of your home and really see what needs improvement. Don't forget to clean your yard and trim trees and bushes too since it is the first thing potential buyers see. You have to make a great impression in order to keep them interested in buying your home.