the best thing we did when we were selling the home that had gotten too small for our growing family was rent a pod (well, a similar one, 800-pack rat). We went through every room, kept only what was essential to live and stage the house perfectly. Everything else went into the pod, about half the contents of the house. Some furniture, lots of boxes that were stored in the garage, extra pots/pans/dishes, off season clothes, more than half the kids toys, you name it. So if you opened a closet, you saw perfectly hung up clothes, lots of space for shoes, nothing 'packed in'. The kitchen cabinets had 6 plates, 6 cups, 1 pot, 1 pan, a few tupperware, minimal pantry items. All perfectly neat and tidy. Once it was packed, we had them take it to their storage facility so it wasn't in the driveway. When we moved, we had them deliver it to the new house. Super easy, not to expensive (for a local move like ours, and like yours it sounds like).
We painted nearly every room. We took all personal photos off the walls (before painting!). We bought a new, inexpensive bedding set and put that on the master bed. We removed all knick knacks from tables and shelves, left only a few key pieces. Everything was removed from the kitchen counterse. The toaster remained, but was stowed in a cabinet.
Prior to wanting to sell we'd done a kitchen remodel, necessary to sell, and did it as inexpensively as possible. Our bath was updated. A new roof was put on and new windows put in. The home was old and needed all of these things.
Anything that was 'undone' we did. It was all little stuff but worth it to do.
Hardwood floors were cleaned with a super shiny stuff, and swiffered every morning.
We cleaned top to bottom. When they house went on the market, we made it a habit to clean up as we went along. Dishes never left in the sink, laundry never left sitting out. Garbage out every morning.
We kept a laundry basket by the front door. Any paraphernalia (like school papers, mail not sorted yet, whatever had shown up in the house recently) that was laying around got thrown in the basket and i took it in the car with me when a showing was happening.
Before showings (if i knew in advance) and before the open house i baked some pullsbury ready made dough squares (just a few) so the smell of fresh baked cookies was in the house.
We got multiple offers and sold for top dollar within 4 weeks. It was worth all the hard work! (and this was during this bad economy.)
