After the start of a new year, it's time to put away your holiday decorations and think about the coming weeks and months. You might start planning your big summer vacation or when you'll visit family. Before you can jump into any ideas, however, your focus turns to how you can sell your home and make this the year of your big move.

Putting your house on the market is a big deal and takes a bit of planning. Despite whether you've contacted a real estate agent, your home has to stand out from all the others to attract potential buyers. Sprucing up your property might have been the last thing on your mind as you waited out the winter months. Now spring is right around the corner, though, and it's time to get the ball rolling.

Check out these seven steps to prepare your home for a spring sale. With the right steps, your home could sell within weeks.

Wash Your House

The next thing you should do is take a good look at your home's siding and windows. Are they covered in dirt and grime? When the weather warms up, wash the outside of your house with a hose or a power washer. It will have the same effect as a new coat of paint, minus the sanding and paintbrushes.

Do Some Yard Work

People may drive by your home and see a for sale sign in your yard. They could also browse through pictures of it online. Either way, your landscaping will be the first thing they notice, so make it extra nice.

During your next free weekend, take your lawn mower and leaf blower out of storage. Edge around your driveway, pull out weeds and plant new flowers. A fresh yard instantly makes any house visually appealing.

Deep Clean Every Room

Nothing is worse than walking into an open house and finding the place a wreck. No one wants to buy a home filled with junk, so deep clean every room well before potential buyers arrive. This step means extra work like dusting the ceiling fans, window treatments and scrubbing your floors, along with your regular cleaning routine.

Buy a New Doormat

During your first open house, people will walk in through the front door. Welcome them by buying a new doormat. It makes a porch feel cheery and encourages guests to imagine themselves relaxing in that spot after they move in.

Decorate Your Porch

Make sure to add some decoration to your front and back porches. Fresh flowers and a few accessories will make your home feel like spring without taking up too much of your time. If your porch is yellow from pollen, make sure to spray it down with a hose to get rid of the allergens.

Create a Blank Slate

One of the most important things to do before taking pictures for your online listing is to create a blank slate. Take down family pictures or pages your kids colored so guests can visualize their belongings instead. Turn each room into something you'd see in a magazine. Replace bold paint colors with neutral ones and open up each space.

Remove Bad Odors

Take a walk through your house to hunt down any bad smells. Baking soda will become your new best friend as you remove bad or lingering odors in places like your carpets, furniture or fridge. Don't lose out on a sale because the right buyer feels like they'll get stuck with a permanently smelly home.

Start Extra Early

Pleasant spring weather may be months away, but start preparing your home as early as possible. You'll give yourself time to clean, reorganize and polish up the little details you might miss otherwise. Decorating your porch or buying a new doormat are easy steps to make your home beautiful and get it ready for the housing market.