-
Open the draperies, pull
up the shades and let in the sunlight.
-
Create a positive mood.
Turn on all lights, day or night. Open the curtains during the day.
-
Install higher wattage
light bulbs to show your home brightly—in its best light. Turn on all
lights.
-
Remove all clutter from
each room to visually enlarge them.
-
Create the impact of
spaciousness.
-
If you have a fireplace,
highlight it in your decorating.
-
Keep your home dusted and
vacuumed at all times.
-
Have a family emergency
“game plan” to get the home in order quickly if necessary.
-
Air out your home one half
hour before the showing if possible.
-
Lightly spray the room
with air freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse and air before the
buyer
arrives.
-
Microwave a small dish of
vanilla twenty minutes before the showing and place it in an out of the
way place in the kitchen.
-
Create a master “suite”
effect in your decorating.
-
Make sure that beds are
made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean.
-
Organize your closets,
remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.
-
Bathrooms should always be
kept spotlessly clean.
-
Do not leave towels around
and wipe down the shower areas after each use.
-
Recaulk if the caulking is
not sparkling white!
-
Put out fresh towels and
decorative soap for showings.
-
Set the scene by setting
the table! Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand
dining table!
-
The kitchen should always
be kept spotlessly clean.
-
Expand your counter space
by removing small appliances.
-
Highlight an eat-in area
in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
-
Shampoo all carpets and
vacuum them daily.
-
If the carpet does not
clean up well you should replace It!
-
Improve traffic flow
through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness in every room by
removing unnecessary furniture, knick knacks, hobby items, children’s
items, etc.
-
However, try to avoid
creating a “sterile” looking environment.
-
Remove all grease from
range hoods, ovens, stove tops, walls, etc.
-
Clean rubbish out of the
fireplace and keep it clean in the winter.
-
If you have numerous family
photo’s put them away until your home is under contract. Perspective
buyers will feel more like it can be their home if they aren’t aware of
your family photo memories.
-
Remove all unnecessary items
from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and especially from the
storage area if you have one.
-
Rent a storage area for these
items or have a yard sale.
-
Straighten, tidy, and remove
unnecessary items from all closets. Put unnecessary items in storage.
-
Fix the Front Door Bell!
-
Invest in a new door mat.
-
Make sure the front door,
storm door, screen door, etc. work wonderfully!
-
Create the feeling of a
spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and
by removing all unnecessary clutter.
-
Regardless of the season,
tackle spring cleaning. Clean everything in your home from top to bottom,
from the attic to the basement!
-
Wash all windows, inside and
out.
-
Curtains should be fresh,
clean and attractive.
-
Clean all light bulbs, light
fixtures and chandeliers to brighten the home.
-
Remove all smoke odors, pet
odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.
-
Straighten, tidy and remove
unnecessary items from all closets. Create the feeling of spacious
closets. Put all unnecessary items in storage or invest in under-the-bed
storage boxes.
-
Remove posters and adhesive
from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other
mishaps.
-
Depersonalize teenagers rooms
and decorate in a neutral temperament.
-
Clean or paint the basement
walls and floor.
-
Paint all inside walls with
off-white paint. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright or dark
walls.
-
All walls should be painted,
not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger.
-
Repair or replace all doors,
closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.
-
Repair or replace banisters
and handrails.
-
Repair or replace broken
tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs.
-
Repair or replace loose or
dangling wall paper.
-
If the basement shows any
signs of water or structural damage it may be necessary to obtain a
structural engineer’s report.
-
Replace all toilet bowls if
you cannot get them spotlessly clean.
-
Replace shower curtains and
keep them clean.
-
Replace the washers in
faucets and remove rust stains form basins.
-
Water and prune all plants.
-
Use plants in transitional
areas of your home between inside and out.
-
Either get rid of dying
plants or keep them out of sight.
-
Remove any excess extension
cords and exposed wires.
-
Open doors to areas you want
the potential buyer to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic,
basement, etc.
-
Close all other closet doors and cabinets.
-
Make the most of your attic’s potential, if
applicable.
-
Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it
out, and decorating if possible.
-
Add visual appeal to stairways, especially in
unfinished stairways to the basement.
-
Keep the yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered at
all times!
-
Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio
furniture, trash, etc.
from the yard.
-
Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed.
-
Lawns and gardens should be weeded at all times.
-
Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkways,
and patio.
-
All hoses and garden equipment should be neatly out
of sight.
-
Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or
repainted if necessary.
-
Firewood should be neatly stacked or out of sight.
-
Mail boxes should be evaluated with a critical eye.
-
Paint and repair the mail box or replace it if
necessary.
-
Make all those minor repairs to the exterior.
-
Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other
extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good
condition.
-
Paint all entrance doors.
-
Shades and awnings should be in good condition.
Replace if the color has faded. Remove windsocks.
-
Create an outside living/dining area with furniture
and plants.
-
Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with
lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc.
-
Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting
systems.
-
Take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping
now if you are planning to sell your home later in the season.
-
Display these photos in your home in the winter time.
-
Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs,
knockers, lamps, mail boxes, address numbers, etc.).
-
Clean, repair and paint all gutters and downspouts.
-
All roof shingles, tiles, etc. should be secured or
replace. If the roof leaks — Fix It!
-
Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint
the garage door if
necessary.
-
Paint chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.
-
An investment in painting your home can really make
the difference between “turning on” the buyer and sending up a red
flag about the condition of the home.
Some final things you can do to help your
home sell quickly!
-
Arrive at an equitable asking price using an
appraisal.
-
Don’t be afraid to accept the first offer.
-
Obtain a floor plan of your home if possible.
-
Assemble house records for buyer perusal.
-
Provide a map of the area and highlight special
interest items.
-
Only consider written offers by lender-prequalified
buyers.
-
Enlist the services of a professional marketing agent
such as The
Home Team to market your home in trade magazines, newspapers,
and with sign brochures.
