The walls and ceilings should be clean. Make sure that there are no cobwebs lurking in corners and that there are no stains visible, especially on the ceiling. Stains on a ceiling will make a buyer wonder if there is or has been a leak somewhere. So, if there are old stains, you will probably need to repaint the ceiling(s). Ceilings should be painted bright white in order to create an open and airy feeling in the house. If there is ceiling popcorn, it can be removed, but it's not necessary especially if other houses in the neighborhood have it. It can, however, be tricky to paint.
Make sure that there isn't an excessive amount of decor and pictures on the walls. Taking some of them off the walls will make a room appear larger. Patch and repair any visible damage to walls and ceilings. If fixtures have been taken off the walls, make sure that all of the nail holes are repaired.
It is particularly important to remove cracks in walls and ceilings so that buyers do not assume there is foundation damage. If you really clean the walls, it will make a big difference in their appearance. Once again, the Magic Eraser is the key to getting the walls really clean and it may save you a paint job in the long run. If you decide that you need to repaint anyway, make sure that you choose a light, neutral color. Repainting will make a home seem brand new. Note: If you are painting the walls and ceilings, paint the ceilings first so that excess paint does not spatter your newly painted walls.