Preparing your home for sale

Preparing your home for sale

You are able to significantly influence the selling price of your house by preparing it, and your property, BEFORE putting it on the market.

The following is a list of suggestions that will surely improve a buyer's first impression of your home. Review the checklist with us. We will be able to help you in more detail, by walking through your home together. Before taking pictures, we will check to see exactly what the camera will "see". By all means, look carefully at walls, floors, and ceilings for signs of wear, marks or the need for repainting. It may pay to have a professional cleaning service come and perform a thorough cleaning as well.

Remember that if a potential buyer sees you bursting at the seams (for example bulging closets and cluttered surfaces), they will think their possessions won't fit either.  If you must, put items in storage.

General areas that need to be looked at include:

VIEW FROM ACROSS THE STREET - CURB APPEAL!

  • Healthy, trimmed lawn
  • Shrubs & Trees trimmed neatly (not to touch the house)
  • Weed and mulch beds
  • Fix broken driveway asphalt
  • Edge all walkways and driveway
  • Remove any loose items/clutter from grounds

HOUSE EXTERIOR

  • Clean siding
  • Touch up all exterior trim
  • Repair/paint any gates or fences
  • Clean and align gutters and downspouts
  • Wash/paint shutters
  • Wash all windows, storms, and screens

FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA - Exterior

  • Clean front steps, porch as needed
  • Clean exterior light fixtures
  • Put a fresh welcome mat at the entrance
  • Clean or paint the front door

FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA - Interior

  • Clear the interior entry area of all clutter
  • Wash, polish and replace bulbs in light fixtures
  • Paint to lighten and refresh entrance area
  • Reduce volume & clutter in the front hall closet
  • Clean and polish the front entry floor
  • Remove fingerprints, scuff marks on trim, walls

MAIN ROOMS

  • Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling, and trim
  • Repair or replace damaged molding and trim
  • Shampoo carpeting
  • Refinish, clean, wax floor
  • Get rid of clutter and extra knick-knacks

BEDROOMS

  • Repaint, re-paper, touch up walls, trim, ceiling
  • Replace or clean drapes
  • Shampoo carpet or clean, polish floors
  • Organize and neaten all closets
  • Clear off top surfaces of all bedroom furniture
  • Put all clothing away
  • Clean out closets

KITCHEN

  • Paint walls, ceiling, trim white or light color
  • Remove wax, scrub, re-polish floors
  • Wash, wipe down, wax cabinets/appliances
  • Thoroughly clean range, ovens
  • Clean out the refrigerator and wash interior
  • Empty dishwasher, clean around controls
  • Check operation of all appliances
  • Reorganize and clean out cabinets and drawers
  • Neatly arrange and display dishes in cabinets
  • Clear all clutter from countertops
  • Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
  • Wash or replace curtains
  • Clean or put away pet feeding, watering dishes

BATHROOMS

  • Paint using light colors
  • Scrub tile, bleach, repair grout
  • Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
  • Clean, polish floor as appropriate
  • Clean out the medicine cabinet, wash inside and out
  • Seal around tubs and showers
  • Check for evidence of water at the toilet base
  • Replace old toilet seats
  • Replace shower and window curtains
  • Buy a set of new, color-coordinated bath linens in pleasing neutral colors

LAUNDRY ROOM

  • Check operation of appliances and clean them
  • Clean and clear clutter
  • Provide adequate (bright) light to the area

GENERAL INTERIOR

  • Remove clutter, papers, unnecessary items & knick-knacks
  • Replace burned-out bulbs throughout the house
  • Clean out, sweep and organize the garage
  • Organize basement and attic storage
  • Remove cobwebs from ceilings, corners
  • Replace switches and outlets that don't work
  • Place plants around the house
  • Remove paint splash on tile, floor, cabinets
  • Wash, polish all door hardware, handrails
  • Reorganize, clean-out all closets
  • Remove or reduce the number of personalized items around like family photos.