The weather is awful, it gets dark at five o'clock in the afternoon. It's cold and rainy and nothing is blooming. There are no leaves on most of the trees (they are in your gutters). And for whatever reason only you understand, you've just got to try to sell your house.

What can you do to help buyers see your castle in its best possible light?

I have worked with first time and repeat buyers for many years, and they all have one thing in common. They are all afraid of the unexpected and the unknown. The unknown title problem, the unexpected major repair, the unknown home value, the unexpected costs of utilities, the unknown neighbors, and the unexpected cash required at closing.

So, beyond painting everything in sight and making your house look and smell good, what can you do to tip the scales in your favor? I recommend putting together a photocopied home information package that you can hand to every prospective purchaser or Realtor who may come calling. This handout should have the following information, at the least:

* One page flier with color photo of your home listing features and benefits of your particular house. Keep it simple.

* A copy of your most recent plat of survey, or at least a blow-up of the county plat for your block, showing lot dimensions. Men in particular love to know the boundaries of their kingdom.

* Recent appraisal of your home, including a list of selected recent sales in your neighborhood. Remember that it won't do you any good to get a high contract offer if the house won't appraise, so go ahead and have the appraisal performed now, and include it in your package.

* Recent home inspection and list of defects found, conducted by a qualified professional home inspector. I have long been impressed by members of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors, who have high ethical standards. Along with the inspection report, include receipts of any repairs made to address the problem areas found, or at least firm estimates from reliable contractors showing the true cost of the needed work. Buyers often overestimate the cost of repairs as a way of protecting themselves against loss.

* Copies of your recent property tax bills, including any property tax returns or assessment protests you have made in recent years. Remember that the tax assessor probably has your home valued for more than you could possibly sell it, so use that to your advantage. Include the information and let the prospect sort it out for themselves. And you can always use a copy of this appraisal as a powerful tool in getting your assessment lowered for 2012.

* Copies of last 12 utility bills showing seasonal variations, and copy of property insurance bill. The more the buyer knows about what his future costs will be, the more comfortable he feels. If your home has low utility usage due to unusual improvements, such as geothermal heating system, list them all now.

* While no two houses are ever exactly alike, it's the people in the neighborhood who set a community apart, so highlight some of the individuals in the area in a neighborhood newspaper. If you don't have a neighborhood newspaper, create one! Invite neighbors to a "Fix Up, Paint Up, Clean Up" day and offer local Boy Scouts a chance to earn some money being helpful.

* Include in this package a lenders Listing Sheet, showing the cash required at closing for different loan programs and interest rates for different products. In addition, this sheet should highlight the lender's contact information That way, the prospect can call and get pre-qualified. Remember that a prospect may be willing to talk with a loan officer when they might be reluctant to share their personal information with you.

* Last, I recommend that you purchase and include a copy of a Home Warranty program that you will purchase for marketing purposes. Typically, the warranty covers you against any system repairs during your marketing time period, then goes into full force on the day your buyer purchases. These warranties cost up to several hundreds of dollars, but will be well worth the expense as a marketing tool. The warranty allows you to promise no unexpected major repairs during the first year of ownership.

My final piece of advice is to create a website for your home from 1and1 or GoDaddy. They only cost a few dollars, and with a name like 225PinetreeLane.com, even your slowest prospect will remember. There, post a downloadable PDF file (I use Nuance PDF Pro v7), and post lots of flattering photos there, as well as lots of other good information about your home.

Your home information package won't make the wrong house right, but it can tip the scales in favor of your house if the buyer sees two homes that he loves equally.