It may sound like a silly thing to say, but when you are selling your home you should think about what your buyer wants. That could mean a lot of things, but if you think about how your home looks from the eye of a buyer, you’ll probably do more to sell it.

So what do buyers want in a home?

Of course they are looking for things like school districts or the amenities a neighborhood can offer, but those things aren’t really in your control. You may have bought your home not thinking about kids and schools, or about whether shopping, restaurants or entertainment is close or farther away from your home. The school system may suddenly have got better or worse, or something could have been built close by, but again, it’s beyond your control.

What you can change is your home and yard.

Start outside and look at your home from the perspective of someone buying. Is it inviting or overgrown? Is it tidy or strewn with toys or trash?

Take some time to work on your landscaping. Paint or clean your front porch and/or door, back deck or patio, sidewalks and driveway. First impressions count. Don’t turn buyers off before they even step foot in your home.

Now that all of that is finished, time to fix your inside.

Declutter, clean and touch up or completely paint. Bring your Realtor in to get his or her input on what furniture should go and what should stay. Remove all extra furniture and stage all rooms to make them look inviting, spacious and new. Update where your Realtor says you should, budget allowing. Then keep up the staging and cleanliness.

Make what you can control the best you can and you will attract the right buyer for your home.