Perhaps you've decided to relocate. Or maybe you've outgrown your home and need to find homes for sale that will accommodate your growing family. Or perhaps your children are grown, you've made the decision to downsize, and are in the market for real estate that will better suit your needs. Or maybe you've decided to take the leap, buy some land, and build the home of your dreams. Whatever the reason, you need to sell the home you currently own, and you've decided to bypass real estate agents and go the "for sale by owner" route.

Before taking the plunge and listing your home, there are a number of steps you should take in order to increase your home's market price and save yourself future hassles.

Just as you would dress appropriately to make a good first impression to those you meet, you want your home to make a good first impression on potential buyers. This means that you'll need to spend some time and money sprucing it up. You don't have to - and shouldn't - invest a lot of money on major improvements. Instead, focus on the little things that make your house memorable to potential buyers.

Spend a day inspecting your house, outside and in, top to bottom. Have a pad of paper and a pen handy during your inspection, and take note of items that need your attention. Use a critical eye when going from room to room. You may never have noticed that the electrical outlet plate in your living room has a crack, and you've worked around that loose door handle in the kitchen. Now's the time to make your list of the minor repairs that will help sell your piece of residential real estate.

Spend the time necessary to make all the repairs on your list. Keep in mind that the purpose is to improve the cosmetic appeal of your home. Once the repairs have been made, take another look and determine the steps you can take to further enhance your home's appearance. For example, give the interior walls a fresh coat of paint (in a neutral color), spruce up your landscaping, and consider renting a storage unit for excess furniture and items you've been storing in the garage. Getting rid of the clutter gives the appearance of spaciousness, which is always a plus to potential homebuyers.

Once your home is prepared, it's time to list it as "for sale by owner." According to the National Association of Realtors, only 24 percent of those using the "for sale by owner" method utilize the Internet as a way to advertise their homes. In contrast, 74 percent of buyers use the Internet as an information source when they search homes. Internet real estate listing services outpace newspaper ads (53 percent) and open houses (51 percent) as information sources for potential buyers. It behooves you, then, to list your property with an Internet source, preferably one that offers both "for sale by owner" homes and Multiple Listing Services.

When you take the necessary steps to effectively prepare and market your home, you will reap the benefits of a higher sales price and a smoother transaction.