It's time to take care of all that deferred maintenance and nagging repairs you've put off forever, you must organize with military precision and then you've got to render your home spotless.

Remember, when you conduct your open house, not only will you compete with homes on the resale market, you'll also be up against homes in those brand spanking new home communities.

Here's a categorical approach to making your house shine. Maybe you can't or don't want to do all of them, but the more the better.

General maintenance, repairs and touch ups

Let there be functional lighting. Make certain light switches, dimmers, lamps and fixtures are working properly, blown bulbs have been changed and all the light bulbs have the appropriate wattage.

Flush out plumbing problems. Re-enamel, patch or replace badly chipped or stained fixtures. Repair those gurgling, noisy toilets and faucets that squeak, leak or spray water. Give the ice maker, water heater and water cooler the once over too.

Control the climate. Get your thermostat, furnace, air conditioner, humidifier or dehumidifier in like-new working order. Clean floor and wall ducts, vents and air intake assembly.

Extras, extras. Check the batteries in your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors, and make sure your security alarm system is working properly. Repair loose knobs, sticking cabinets, cupboards, drawers, doors and windows, broken light switches, electrical outlets and other minor flaws. Oil any squeaky doors. These minor defects detract from the value of the home. When prospective buyers discover items that need attention, they could worry about what they can't see.

Organize

Spacious looking rooms and lots of storage space sell homes. Forget your pack rat tendencies. Now's not the time to horde. Consider having a garage sale to dispose of unwanted items. Donate stuff to charity, for a tax benefit. Investigate the cost to store some items. Recycle magazines, newspapers, bottles, cans and so on. Remove and discard all unnecessary articles from your attic, basement, closets and other storage areas. Keep closets and other storage areas tidy. Consider organizing as you sweep through the house cleaning every nook and cranny and consider storing those items you do not use frequently.

Room-by-room approach to cleaning house

Now you can get down to the nitty-gritty and consider paying someone to perform heavy-duty, commercial-like cleaning to get your home as near as possible to like-new condition.

Everything in your home should be spotless and you've got enough to do. For starters, glue back any peeling wallpaper. Empty ashtrays and throw out the trash. Do whatever you must to eradicate pet, smoke and lingering cooking odors. Painting only the trim and doors will add a new appeal, but a fresh coat of light colored paint on the walls as well is also a good idea. When painting, do the work far in advance. Some people are offended by the smell of paint and others might suspect a cover up. Appraisers are taught to get suspicious and investigate the smell of fresh paint. And now, for good measure, let's inspect each area in your home.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms, powder rooms and showers should sparkle. Remove soap scum, mildew, rust and lime stains. Replace those old toilet seats, buy new shower curtains, Brasso polish fixtures and repair caulking in bathtubs, showers and around the toilet.

Kitchens

Kitchens should be clean, bright and inviting. Clean the oven, range, stove top, Jenn Aire and small cooking appliances. Clean the fridge and the freezer. De-grease exhaust fans and vents. Clean the garbage disposal, drains, soap dishes and faucets. Be conscious of odors caused by dampness, hampers, garbage and various foods. Air out the house daily, instead of using air fresheners or perfumes. Put your cleaning supplies away. Clear counters, drawers and cabinets of unnecessary items. Try switching door, cabinet, cupboard and drawer handles and knobs and replace light switch, electrical outlet, and telephone jack plates for an inexpensive, but dramatic improvement.

Doors, windows

Polish brass hinges, knobs, locks and other fixtures and be sure door locks and hinges work properly. Oil hinges to both doors and windows. Add secure dead-bolts and window locks, if you haven't already. You will do windows. Squeegee windows until they squeak "Clean! Clean!" Repair or replace bent or damaged screens and window glass. Clean draperies, blinds, shutters, slats and shades and make sure they are firmly installed and in proper working order. Be sure the doorbell works.

Floors

Get Mr. Clean in there. Wash and wax linoleum floors. Repair or replace damaged or missing tiles and carpeting. Buy new carpeting or steam clean the old. Repair or replace missing or damaged tile, hardwood, vinyl and baseboards.

Ceilings

Walk around your home and look at all the ceilings. Most people never look up - unless they are buyers. Fix any cracks or imperfections and repaint if necessary. If a buyer sees a water stain, he or she will assume there is a problem with the roof or a leaky bathroom - even if you tell them it was fixed.

Bedrooms, living areas

Keep living areas clean and inviting. Dust shelves and furniture, vacuum carpets and touch-up walls with paint or spackling as necessary. Wallpaper should be clean and adhere smoothly to the walls.

Garage, workshop, utility rooms

Bust those cobwebs. Clean up that oil spill. Scrub down that concrete floor. Sweep the area. Make washers, dryers and other appliances sparkle. Tools, and other items should be neatly stored in shelving or wall units. Consider moving excess or over-sized items to mini-storage.

Safety first

Always keep stairways, entrances and exits clear, make sure handrails and guardrails are secure, avoid clutter and don't overload electrical outlets.

Final considerations

Other than updating outmoded kitchens and bathrooms, think twice about major renovations done purely for aesthetic reasons. Unless a prospective buyer promises in writing he or she will pay a premium for the work, they rarely realize a return on your money, which is best saved for improvements on your new home.