Here are 55 time-tested suggestions that will help you make your home more presentable. A good rule to follow is to do cosmetic things that will improve your chances of selling but avoid making major changes unless they are immediately necessary or will increase the value of your home more than the cost of the improvement.

When we get down to essentials, your house is going to have to help sell itself. The general rules are: Clean up! Fix up! Paint up!

Here are suggestions for improving each part of your house and property:

1. Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight. A well-manicured lawn, early clipped shrubbery (all adequately watered), and cleanly swept walks create a good first impression.

2. An extra application of fertilizer in season, followed by a good watering, will make your grass look lush and green.

3. Cut back overgrown shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.

4. Paint your house if necessary. Painting can probably do more for sales appeal than any other factor. If you decide against painting, at least consider touching up the paint or painting the front shutters and window and door frames.

5. In winter, walks should be cleaned of snow and ice.

6. Inspect the roof and gutters. Are there any missing roof shingles to replace? Are all gutters and downspouts in place? Do they need paint or repair?

7. Consider planting flowers outside the front door.

8. Repaint the front door.

9. Put a bright coat of paint on your mailbox.

10. Repair broken outdoor steps.

11. The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make it bright and attractive. If it's dull, paint the cabinets or put up fresh curtains.

12. Clean the ventilating hood and exhaust fan in the kitchen.

13. If the kitchen floor is badly worn, install new flooring. If a single tile is loose, apply heat to the tile with an iron covered with a soft cloth to soften the adhesive. Then replace the tile.

14. Remove all small appliances that you keep on your counters, like a toaster, coffeemaker, can opener. Uncluttered counters make the room look larger.

15. Repair dripping faucets.

16. If the sink drains too slowly, unclog it.

17. In the bathroom, repair dripping faucets.

18. Keep fresh towels in the bathroom.

19. Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, bathtubs, and sinks.

20. If the sink and bathtub drain too slowly, unclog them.

21. In the living areas, have all plaster in top shape. Cracks (or nail-pops and visible seams in drywall) are easy to fix and should be repaired. Touch up the paint.

22. Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair the ceiling, and repaint or repaper.

23. In painting and redecorating, avoid offbeat colors. Stay with conventional white outside and easy-to-work-with pastels inside.

24. Faded curtains or bedspreads can be replaced with new ones or dyed bright colors.

25. If you have a fireplace, clean it out and lay some logs in it to make it look inviting.

26. Clean the carpet and rugs.

27. Remove worn carpet and rugs.

28. Remove all damaged furniture.

29. Wash windows.

30. Replace broken glass.

31. Mend or replace torn window screens and screen doors.

32. Check to see that all windows will open and close easily. Rub a block of paraffin against the surface or tracks that may bind the window.

33. Replace burned-out light bulbs. Use brighter (higher wattage) light bulbs.

34. Be sure every light switch works.

35. Make the floors shine. Clean and polish them. And nail down any creaking boards or stair treads (drive two long finishing nails at opposing angles through the floor and subfloor into the joist).

36. Organize the closets. Get rid of excess.

37. Use room deodorant to eliminate musty odors even in the closets. However, be careful not to use an overpowering scent.

38. Lubricate sticky or squeaking doors. For swinging doors that stick slightly, rub a block of paraffin against the surface that shows signs of wear.

39. For sliding doors that stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax.

40. Illinois law (since June 30, 1988) requires a smoke detector within 15 feet of each bedroom. Every dwelling unit in Illinois must be equipped with at least one approved smoke detector in operating condition within 15 feet of every bedroom after June 30, 1988. The detector may be installed on the ceiling at least 6 inches from any wall or on a wall between 4 and 6 inches from the ceiling. If the dwelling was occupied before January 1, 1988, the detector may be battery operated or wired to the building's electrical system. If the dwelling was occupied for the first time after December 31, 1987, the detector must be wired to the building's electrical system.

41. Clean out the attic, basement, and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move. Package everything you won't need until you are settled in your new home. If your house still looks cluttered and you can't dispose of the surplus items, consider renting storage space temporarily.

42. Make sure there is plenty of light on the stairs to the basement.

43. If your basement is dark and gloomy, paint ceilings and walls a light color and use brighter (higher wattage) light bulbs.

44. Repair cracks in the basement floor and walls with ready-mixed concrete.

45. When your house is being shown, keep room draperies and shades open to let in the light and make rooms appear larger.

46. Have your home well lighted during showing. Turn on all lights and lamps.

47. At night, turn on porch lights and outdoor lighting if you have it.

48. Neatness makes a room look bigger. Avoid clutter.

49. If possible, leave your furniture and rugs in the house when showing it.

50. Avoid having dirty dishes in the sink or on counters.

51. Keep all toys in the children's rooms. Bikes, wagons, and skateboards should be as inconspicuous as possible.

52. Keep radio, stereo, and TV off or turned way down while prospective purchasers are inside the house.

53. Children should be quiet or be sent to a sitter.

54. Don't mention furniture or furnishings you wish to dispose of unless asked. Such discussion can kill the sale.

55. Place pets outdoors or board them when your house is being shown.