Preparing to sell your home is not just a matter of planting a for-sale sign in the front yard.

Making your home truly marketable means tackling that “to-do” list of repairs or renovations you've been procrastinating on.

“Most home buyers are looking for a `turnkey' home, one that requires few upgrades or repairs,” says Richard Roll, president of American Homeowners Association. “Homes that show well, on the inside and out, are likelier to sell sooner and at a higher price. The sooner the seller takes care of renovations, the better the chances for a quick sale.” For information, go to http://www.ahahome.com

Whether doing the work yourself or hiring a contractor, the challenge is getting the work done without major hassles or delays. Although it's tempting to do it yourself, think carefully before trying to tackle a major project — the money saved might not be worth the time, stress or aggravation.

If you're busy and under pressure to move, saddling yourself with another responsibility is just what you don't need.

You should give serious consideration to hiring a remodeling contractor.

Unfortunately, hiring a home repair company is not going to be painless, either. In our boom economy, more homeowners have money to pay for home improvements. As a result, demand for home remodeling has skyrocketed — the industry is so busy that homeowners are practically on their knees begging for skilled tradespeople. There just aren't enough of them to go around.

So where does that leave the embattled seller, except between a rock and a hard place? It leaves you having to get creative. Here are some possible solutions.

First, consider handing your problems over to a full-service home marketing/improvement company. These companies help sellers get maximum curb appeal and charm on the inside. They match design expertise with home marketing savvy, plus they can refer skilled remodeling and repair contractors to handle the nuts and bolts.

Another alternative is to pay a little more. Bonuses and incentives can go a long way toward enticing a remodeling company to show up and complete the work within your schedule. The idea is to use a “carrot and stick” approach. Present deadlines along with bonuses for meeting them.

The extra expense may sound unnecessary but contractors unfortunately can pick and choose among customers these days, so you might as well make your project the priority.

For information on any aspect of buying or selling a home, go to http://www.ahahome.com, the web site for American Homeowners Association.