Preparing to Sell Your Home

Here are few quick tips to help prepare your house to before it goes on the market. Follow these simple steps and make a great impression on potential buyers to help cinch the deal.

General Maintenance

• Eliminate odors – use air fresheners in rooms, deep-clean odor stains from animals, children, etc.
• Replace and/or clean A/C filters and vents
• Paint walls, ceilings, sides, doors, etc. to cover chipping
• Dust window ledges and clean windows – in and out
• Go through house and garage to purge unused items
• Clean and wipe down all stained woodwork including doors and cabinets
• Get carpets cleaned if they are stained or old
• Start packing small items that clutter up the house

Interior Maintenance
 

Kitchen

• Keep all surfaces clean and clear – two items or less on each
• Remove all clutter from the front of the refrigerator
• Make sure trash is not overflowing – store inside pantry, closet or under sink
• Sweep and clean floors on a regular basis
• Wash and put away dishes in the sink before all showings

Living Areas

• Don’t overdo it on furniture – keep the nicer pieces out and store the rest
• Float furniture away from walls; it will make the room appear bigger
• Store away personal photos, magazines, books, etc that make the room look cluttered
• Patch and paint nail holes
• Allow as much natural light to shine through as possible
• Add lamps to rooms that are dimly lit
• Clean fireplace and clean mantle of clutter

Bedrooms

• Keep each room simply furnished
• Make sure clothes are hung up, not laying on furniture
• Try to eliminate as many personal photos, posters, etc. as possible from walls
• Make beds
• No more than two items on nightstand, dresser, desk, etc.

Bathrooms

• Scrub toilets, showers, sinks, tubs until they shine
• Clean floors of water, hair, dirt, etc.
• Clear shower of unused/unnecessary bath items
• Clean counters and keep to 2 items or less
• Organize linen closets to look neat

Lighting and Scent

• Dust and wash all light fixtures and fans
• Replace light bulbs and upgrade wattage where you can
• Open windows and turn on lights for showings
• Use a vanilla or baked-goods scent (chocolate chip cookies, cake batter, cinnamon, etc.)

Exterior Maintenance
 

House

• Sweep out garage and around all patios, decks, etc.
• Make sure front porch/door are clear of cobwebs and clean of dirt
• Paint trim where chipped
• Doorbell working?
• Replace broken or damaged roof shingles
• Organize garage – put away tools, stack boxes, organize work space

Yard

• Mow lawn, trim bushes, remove weeds
• Make sure gardens look nice
• Store away hoses, children’s toys, animal toys, etc.

First Impressions Are Everything – You Get One Shot to Make it Great!