How you present a listing online and the words you choose to describe it may be turning off some buyers. Bankrate.com recently asked real estate professionals to weigh in on what listing red flags are turning off their buyers.

1. No photos. “One red flag in many buyers’ eyes is the lack of photos for a listing,” says Don Tepper with Long & Foster in Burke, Va. “There can be some legitimate reasons for few (or no) photos in a listing: The sellers want privacy, or they have valuables they don’t want in the photos. But many would-be buyers–rightly or wrongly–assume that there’s something wrong.” Tepper recommends about a dozen photos for listings and photos that match the home’s description and showcases its best features.

2. Outlandish claims. Referring to the listing as the best property on the market might not be a good idea, says Ziad Najm, a broker at Cedar Real Estate in Mission Viejo, Calif. “Some buyers may be turned off to begin with and some will inevitably be disappointed if the claim doesn’t live up to their expectations,” Najm says. Instead, Najm recommends focusing on adjectives that are flattering to the property but leave some room for interpretation.

3. Priced too low. You want to price the property competitively but pricing too low may make some buyers suspicious or attract unqualified buyers. “Typically, multiple buyers will be attracted to the low asking price and eventually the sales price will climb close to market value as competing offers bid up the price,” Najm says. “However, the strategy is not without risk in that some buyers will be alienated by a potential bidding war.”

4. Listing a property “as is” in the description. That’s not a deal breaker but when you see “as is” in a listing, buyers might be cautious, says Diane Conaway, a San Diego broker with RE/MAX United. Some buyers take the “as is” phrase as the “previous owners stole everything including the kitchen and bathrooms,” Conaway says. “Our contract states ‘as is’ anyway, but some agents restate that in the listing, which is a disservice to their sellers.”

Before you know it, spring will be here. Spring time is the ideal time for home buyers and home owners to buy and sell homes. In the winter, homes sales slow down and people focus on the holidays. Once spring hits, your home can shine its brightest. To prepare your home for sale before the spring hits, here are a few tips. Use them to help you prepare mentally as well as to help you budget your time and money, you will be glad you did.

• Spruce up your curb appeal: The first part of your home that buyers will see is your yard. Believe it or not, buyers will make up their mind whether they like your house from your curb appeal. Take the time and tidy around plant beds with new mulch, cut and trim your lawn and remove unsightly plants and debris. Clean up your front entry, porch furniture and beautify with fresh potted plants to ensure your front entry area is ready to welcome guests.

• Start upgrading now: if you are trying to get the most return on your investment (ROI), look at your home to see if any upgrades are necessary. Upgrades can mean repairing and restoring finishes and appliances or it can mean taking your existing finishes and purchasing higher quality ones. A vinyl floor upgraded to wood or a standard refrigerator upgraded to stainless steel are examples of well worth it upgrades, that you will see a positive return on your investment.

• Do your homework: Research what other homes in your neighborhood that have recently sold or are currently up for sale are offering. Compare their sale prices, home area, amenities and how long their home has been on the market. This will give you an idea of how much to ask for, for the sale of your home, as well as what upgrades your competition offers(ed). This is important, to help you determine how much money you will need to spend to be competitive as well as gauge what home buyers are looking for. Your home is guaranteed to stay on the market longer if it’s considerably over or under the competition, so get armed with the information now. Being well informed will also help you for your next home.

• Budget your money and time: Preparing your home for sale can be expensive and time consuming if you aren’t prepared. Take the time to thoroughly assess what parts of your home you are going to tackle first. Hiring a Realtor to help you prioritize may help if you’re getting overwhelmed.  Keeping yourself sane during selling your home is often a challenge. By planning how much money and time you can dedicate to your home renovations, and preparations will help. The better you can do this, the more enjoyable the home selling process will be.

The spring is the ideal time to prepare your home for selling. While the weather is still mild, start preparing your home for sale now. For specific items to tackle in your home have a professional appraisal as well as a home inspection performed. Both of these will these provide valuable information to prioritize and plan your home selling checklist. Also remember, a professional Realtor can also help you make many of these key decisions and may save you time and money in the long run.