A few weeks back, around the holiday season, my HOMEFINDER piece talked about how it was the ideal time to jettison all that, well, "junk" that may have been piling up in the basement – courtesy of the out-of-town kids and their "we don’t have enough room at our place" dilemma.

I talked about paring down that stockpile of old records, excess furniture, towering columns of National Geographics, and so on. All ultimately in preparation for the "D" word: downsizing. A lot of people are saying "Up!" with downsizing today. Because there comes a time where it simply makes practical and economical sense to clean house and downsize, and empty nesters are doing it in droves.

Whether they’re following any kind of real plan, however, is another question entirely. Luckily for today’s HOMEFINDER reader, I’m sharing with you ten ways to make selling your house easier, as you envision new downsized living arrangements that will make home ownership leaner, meaner, and more manageable:

Let’s talk curb appeal . Are those driving (or walking) up to your house going to think, "Leave It To Beaver" or "The Adam’s Family"? Ok, that may be pushing it, but clearly shaping up your yard is a must. It’s the first thing people see. And you know what they say about that first impression. Make it fabulous, not frightening. Be certain that the driveway and walkways are properly cleared of snow and ice in winter.

In the summer, make sure your lawn is trimmed and edged. That the flowerbeds are cultivated, and your lawn is devoid of debris. Sounds basic, but you’d be surprised how many sellers neglect this important step – and then wonder why the For Sale sign is getting faded.

Let there be light! I can’t lay claim to the originator of that declaration, but I can tell you that bright and airy beats drab and gloomy every day of the week, especially with bathrooms and bedrooms. It communicates a sense of cheer and optimism that would-be buyers pick up on.

Potential buyers eat up a great kitchen! It’s been shown time and again that a gleaming, spotless kitchen, well coordinated and uncluttered, impresses potential home buyers. It’s often the first room they see, and it’s ranked at or near the top in terms of the single most important room in any house. Showcase your kitchen and you’re half-way to taking that For Sale sign down!

A little elbow grease is my next suggestion. Time to brighten things up, especially walls, ceilings, and woodwork. If they’re dirty or faded, wash or repaint them where needed. While you’re at it, clean those carpets and polish the floors. Fact is, bright windows, spotless rooms, and an overall sparkle to things really does help sell your house. The return on investing a little sweat equity can mean an early sale!

Go to extremes – literally . By this I mean don’t forget the attic, basement, and garage. Get rid of all unnecessary articles (I could have said "junk"), and arrange the remaining materials neatly to show these spaces to their best advantage. For example, a potential buyer would want to feel comfortable that the garage will properly accommodate his or her SUV and other equipment to be stored there.

Be an illusionist by making your closets appear larger than they are. How? By simply arranging them more neatly. Hang clothes properly and place shoes and hats in an orderly fashion. Store out of season clothing somewhere else. It’s not magic – just good old-fashioned common sense.

Lots of buyers like to kick the tires – and that often means they’ll turn on faucets, flush toilets, that sort of thing. Be prepared by nipping the drips. Fix leaky faucets. If you don’t, your prospect might think you have faulty plumbing – and who could blame them? What’s more, they may think you’ve been sloppy in other areas of home maintenance, too.

Don’t overlook the details . Remember to also focus on things like sticky drawers, loose doorknobs, and warped cabinet doors. They upset prospects, and that could doom the sale. .

Proportion is important. Meaning each room should be fit with the right amount of furniture. Empty rooms can be depressing. Overly furnished rooms will make the house appear small, just like those cluttered closets we talked about earlier.

Finally , when showing your home after dark, turn on all or at least most lights throughout your house. A well-lit house gives the feeling of friendliness and warmth. A dimly lit house appears dingy, dismal, and depressing. Not a selling point.

And there you have it. Lots of common sense, little effort, a big reward. Now you can downsize the right way, with the right start, at the right time. Go for it!