Editor's note: Julie Overbye Ledy is the owner of expertlystaged.com and a Roseville-area real estate agent. 

These are three tips that are a must for every seller who will be putting their home on the market.

These are also the most time consuming so you should start them early in the home staging process.

1. De-Cluttering

This is the single most important action you can take in preparing the home for sale. Your goal is to remove as much visible clutter as possible and turn disorder into order. A potential buyer needs to see how large each room is but that is difficult with too much furniture and piles of stuff.

 2. Cleaning

The rule here is clean, clean and then clean some more! This is without a doubt most critical to your success. Dirt puts buyers off faster than anything. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms.  Be sure to clean you oven, kitchen sink and bathtub.

 3. Repair

A home that is in a good state of repair indicates to potential buyers that the house has been well maintained and is not hiding something that will cost them later on down the road. It’s important that you learn how to take each room step-by-step and look for items that may be in need of repair.  These items will most likely be discovered during the home inspection so it is best to address them before putting the home on the market.

 A good home stager can help you with all  three. It is a worthwhile investment to have a home stager come to your home so she/he can help you prioritize your list.