17 Tips on Preparing your Home For Sale
If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a number of things
you can do to improve the “showability” of your home. But first, let’s look at
your home through the eyes of the buyer.
Inside:
1) Open the window coverings and let the sun shine in. Window coverings
should be cleaned so that they are not dusty. Have your windows professionally
cleaned - you won’t believe the difference!
2) Turn on all lights - day or night. Clean all light bulbs, light
fixtures and chandeliers. Wherever practical, install higher wattage light bulbs
to further brighten your home.
3) Create the illusion of spaciousness, remove all clutter from each room
to visually enlarge them (imagine a builder’s model home). Improve traffic flow
and create a feeling of spaciousness by removing unnecessary furniture,
knick-knacks, hobby items, children's items, etc. Organize your closets and
cabinets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Rent a storage area
if needed, or pack it in the garage. You're going to move anyway -- start now!
4) Light your fireplace during the winter.
5) Keep your home dusted and vacuumed.
6) Have a family "game plan" to get the home in show condition quickly -
everyone should have an assigned task.
7) Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.
When possible, air out your home before the showing. Lightly spray room
freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.
8) Make sure that beds are made.
9) Bathrooms should be kept clean, toilet lids down, no hair in the sink.
Do not leave dirty towels out; wipe down the shower areas after each use. Repair
or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs. Recaulk if the
caulking is chipped and/or stained. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for
showings.
10) Fix dripping faucets, remove rust stains from basins.
11) The kitchen should be kept clean. Remove all grease from range hoods,
ovens, stovetops, walls, etc. Expand your counter space by removing small
appliances - everything except those items used on a daily basis - remember:
picture a builder’s model home.
12) Shampoo all carpets and vacuum as necessary. If the carpet does not
clean up well, ask your agent if you should replace it.
13) First impressions: Does the doorbell work? Invest in a new doormat.
Make sure the front door, screen door, etc. open easily and are visually
appealing. If necessary, paint all entrance doors.
14) Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating
accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and by removing all unnecessary clutter.
15) Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.
16) Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mail
boxes, address numbers, etc.)
17) Paint inside walls with a neutral colored paint. Usually, all walls
should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look
bigger and cleaner. Depersonalize teenager's rooms and decorate in a more
neutral manner. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any
holes resulting from nails or other mishaps. An investment in painting your home
can make a big difference. Where necessary, repair or replace doors, closet
doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.
Outside:
Remove dying plants or keep them out of sight. Keep the yard mowed,
raked, weeded, fertilized and watered. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and
trimmed. Use plants and flowers on porches and front walk way - create curb
appeal! Hoses and garden equipment should be kept neatly out of sight. Remove
all toys, bicycles, tools, unattractive patio furniture, trash, etc., from the
yard. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean.
Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the
house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition. Keep trashcans
deodorized, covered and out of sight.
Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches,
planters, flowering plants, etc.
Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.
Don’ts:
Don’t volunteer information
Don’t answer nosey
questions
Don’t let strangers in “off the street”
Do:
Enlist the service of a professional marketing agent
such as Phyllis Harb, to market your home in trade magazines, newspapers, call
capture 24 hour hotline, Internet sites, Virtual Tour, etc. Make your
home look like a model even if isn’t - contact Phyllis and ask her about her on
staff professional decorator (no additional charge).
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