Seven Steps to Prepare for your Open House on the Monterey Peninsula.

1. Hire a service to clean. A house that sparkles is critical; dirt is a turn off for a buyer, quicker anything. Few people are as detailed at cleaning as a service.

2. Cut your grass, be sure all lawn and garden tools are out of sight.

3.Havecookies, coffee, and soft drinks for your prospects. This is a nice touch. But don't leave the kitchen dirty; use paper cups so you don't have dishes sitting in the sink.

4. Put your valuables jewelry,money somewhere safe and out of sight. Your realtor can't watch everyone who visits the house during the open house.

5. Make sure all the lights are on. Lights add sparkle even in the daylight hours.

6. Have your pets outside or better still, leave them with a neighbor. If you can't do that put them in a crate them limit them to a room such as the garage or a bathroom. Tell the Realtor where the pets are confined.

7. Leave. Potential buyers like to look in bedroom closets. They won't express their likes and dislikes with a seller present. The longer they look and linger the more likely they are to purchase your home.