The average house for sale in the United States stays on the market for 21 days, according to the National Association of Realtors. However, that number can vary widely depending on where you live. Obviously, the longer your home lingers unsold, the longer you have to pay taxes, insurance and your mortgage payment, and the longer you have to delay going forward with your plans to move. Fortunately, there are a number of easy and affordable things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers.

1. Stow half of your stuff. Everyone likes to collect things. However, potential buyers want to be able to picture their things in your space. This can be difficult when you have your books, toys, magazines and collectables cluttering the rooms. Avoid this be packing up half of your possessions before you begin showing your home. 

2. Replace your kitchen and bathroom cabinet hardware. Few things date a room as much as the hardware on your cabinets. For just a few dollars, you can modernize your cabinets with new knobs and drawer pulls. You'll be surprised at the difference.

3. Consider replacing your light fixtures. Like your cabinet hardware, your light fixtures can make your rooms look dated. In addition, the more light you give your rooms, the most appealing, in general, they will be to your potential buyers.

4. Repaint in neutral colors. Dramatic colors are fun, but they can turn off a potential buyer who doesn't share your taste in hues. Repainting your dramatic walls in neutral colors, like white, beige and gray, will give them the opportunity to visualize their own furnishings and decor in your living spaces. If you have a little extra to spend, replacing your colorful carpeting with something in a neutral shade can also help.

5. Up your curb appeal. A buyer's first impression of your home can make the difference between them calling for an appointment to view the house or driving on by without seeing all of the wonderful features inside the house. You can increase your curb appeal without spending a lot of money by adding a few colorful annuals around the door, painting (or staining) your front door and making sure that your gutters are clean and in good repair.

Making your home appealing to potential buyers doesn't have to be expensive or time-consuming. You can make your home significantly stand out from other homes for sale by just doing a few easy things, like eliminating some of your possessions to make your rooms seem larger and more adaptable to the buyer's furnishings, changing out your cabinet hardware and light fixtures, and making sure your walls and floor coverings are a neutral color.