If you put your house on the market, it usually means you are ready to move on, be it to upsize, downsize or relocate.  
Here are some key tips to remember to make the house SHOW LIKE A JEM:
1) emotionally detach yourself from home.  A good way to do to that is by taking down your personal photos along with those family heirlooms prior to showings starting.  It also means the buyer will not see and list it as a contingency in the purchase agreement. 
2) don't just organize, DECLUTTER. I know you are still meaning to look through all of last year's National Geographics, but perhaps its time to donate that reading material to the local library.   

• Make a run to the hardware store & purchase AT LEAST 3 storage crates. 
• Label each: DONATE, THROW AWAY, STORE AWAY. Then go room by room through the house with those crates.  
• Be sure you remove knicknacks & clean off your countertops.  Keep the view simple to not overwhelm potential buyers. 
• Remember closets! buyers are curious.
• This also *might* mean you rearrange a room to be more 'photo friendly'.

3) do minor repairs -- for example like that leaking sink or touch up the paint on the corners. 
4) make it SPARKLE.  clean and more cleaning.  Vinegar should be your best friend.  This is especially important for the KITCHEN and BATHROOM. 
5) curb appeal.  Take a step outside to the end of your driveway.....do you like what you see?  What draws your attention first?  Make sure that potential seller will want to get out of the car to see more. 

What is a minnennial some may ask? Anyone born between 1981 and 1996 (so a recent college grad to a mid-thirties peep).  What does this mean--> LOTS of first time home buyers are in the marketplace. 
So, what are minnennials seeking in a home?  

1. Well, a lot is driven by what they bring with them, figurativally, that is.  STUDENT DEBT.  Over 50% of students graduate with student loan debt, with the current National average being $37,172 for an undergrad degree. Put another way, that is a 20% DOWN PAYMENT on a $185,000 house.  Yet, minnennial buyers, at 85%, are the most likely generation to see buying a home as a savvy financial investment. 
2. Interest rates (are rising).  Rates are likely to climb above 5% (this is a seven year high).  In the long term, the cost of home ownership is going up.  For example, for a 30 year mortgage on a $300,000 home going from 3.5% to 5% means an increase of $263.33 a month in mortgage payment, for a whooping $94,799.09 more over in cost over the life of the mortgage. That is some serious chunk change. 
3. Competiting with the boomers.  'Surban' areas, a mix of suburban and urban features, including affordability, walkability, smaller home sizes with more upgrades, open green space and strong public schools.  Baby boomers and minnennials are seeking these ideal combinations.  Another term to watch for with regards to surban is '18 hour cities' --with examples like Kansas City and Charleston, SC. Moving Midwest is also happening from the coasts due to lower housing costs, healthy job opportunities and low unemployment (AKA lower crime!)--examples include Madison, Des Moines, and Omaha.  
4. Going GREEN BABY!  Minnennials are actively seeking energy-efficiency  from lowing heatings/cooling home costs to community composting. Curious to learn more, measure your carbon footprint.  
5. Sweat Equity.  Thank you HGTV and DIY blogs.  This is huge for me personally, which you know if you are reading my blog! This means the realtor needs help clients see the potential that exists with a little elbow grease. 
6. Social Media. Social Media. Social Media.  Much like location, location, location in real estate, social media continues to be a game changer, especially for the minnennial generation.  They know how to research and will prepared when they arrive at the real estate table.