THE EXTERIOR
Your house makes it's first impression before the buyer ever steps inside-first impressions can be lasting ones. In reality, the condition of your home's exterior makes an important statement about the condition of the entire house.
LAWN / TREES / SHRUBS
Make sure the front and back yard is trimmed, raked and edged. Trees and shrubs should be neatly trimmed to compliment your house.
DRIVEWAYS / SIDEWALKS
Make sure there are no weeds or debris and wash them to remove any dirt or stains. Also, patch any potholes or cracks.
DOORWAYS
Make sure all light fixtures, doorknobs, lock and doorbells are in good working condition. Doors should be clean and painted if there are any stains.
WINDOWS
Replace any cracked or broken panes. Be sure all windows are washed, both inside and out. All screens should be free of runs or tears.
ROOF / GUTTERS
Secure or replace any loose shingles. Make sure gutter are firmly in place.
FENCES
Make sure the fence is in good repair and touch up or repaint all areas where necessary.
PAINTED SURFACES
Unless there is extensive cracking or peeling it may not be necessary to repaint the entire house. Touching up the trim may be all that is necessary to give the home a fresh, clean look.
THE INTERIOR
Put yourself in the buyers place. Look objectively at the interior of your home. This is definitely the time to pay attention to details.
WALLS
Check for peeling paint. Wash any dirty areas. Clean wallpaper and glue down any loose edges. Make sure the baseboards are clean and in good shape.
CLOSETS
Remove any excess items to make closets clean and spacious looking.
LIVING ROOM / FAMILY ROOM
Arrange furniture to make the room as open as possible. Avoid cluttering the living area with too many knickknacks. If there is an excessive amount of furniture, it may be worth putting some in storage. Too much furniture
makes a room look smaller.
FIREPLACE
Make sure to sweep and clean fireplace and tools. A few logs neatly piled on the hearth can create a cozy feeling.
KITCHEN
Clean and polish all appliances. Remove any stains from sinks and put all dishes out of sight. Fix leaky faucets and make sure drains work properly. Avoid clutter on counter tops-this minimized the apparent workspace.
LIGHTING FIXTURES
Clean all fixtures until they sparkle. Make sure all the light bulbs work. Leaving the lights on when showing the house makes it brighter.
BATHROOMS
Make sure all surfaces are clean and chrome is spotless. Remove all non-skid decals and bath mats that are in poor condition. Replace any dirty or worn shower curtains. Make sure that the caulking is clean and repaired where needed. Consider using a colored toilet bowl cleaner that dispenses every flush. Check any leaks or disturbing sounds that may cause buyers to be concerned with the plumbing.
LAUNDRY ROOM
Make sure washer and dryer are clean and lint free and that there is no caked-on detergent. Consider shelving for storage of detergents and other cleaning products.
CHILDRENS BEDROOMS
Make sure room is uncluttered. Put toys away and consider storing excess items. Make sure that there is not an overabundance of items on the walls, such as posters, etc. This tends to make the room appear smaller.
GARAGE
Organize your space. Hang tools, bicycles and gardening implements on walls. A clean car will indicate that you take pride in your belongings and that will reflect positively on your home.
WELL, YOU ARE NOW PREPARED FOR YOUR BUYER. IT MAY HAVE TAKEN A LOT OF WORK, BUT THE REWARD CAN BE WELL WORTH IT!
