Getting Your Home Ready to Sell

5 Tips to Prepare Your Home for Sale

Working to get your home ship-shape for showings will increase its value and shorten your sales time. Read

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YOUR CHECKLIST:

Start with the outside – curb appeal gets buyers into your home. Scrape, prep, paint or power wash house, deck and patio. Clean out flower beds and rake up any refuse or leaves, and add new mulch and new fresh flowers. Replace outside lights. Clean and repair gutters and downspouts. Repair or replace rusted or pitted railings. Sweep (or shovel!) walkways. Clean or paint the front door.
From the outside, step into the front foyer and look around. Is the entryway attractive, or is it cluttered?
Wash all windows inside and out. Open draperies and curtains during the day, or turn on lights at night to promote the effect of bright cheery interiors.
Remove personal items, family pictures, and all excess decorations, including extra furniture. Start packing—especially personal collections. Make the space look as large and inviting as possible.
Set a neutral tone to the house—with paint and colors. You want your home to appeal to as wide a range of buyers as possible.
Be sure all carpet and floors are clean. Replace, clean or repair as necessary.
Dust your furniture and hot water heater and all other appliances. A shiny appliance shows an attention to maintenance and care.
Replace the filters in your heating and cooling systems.
Fix everything that is broken, including loose doorknobs, wobbly hinges, stuck windows, cracked glass or mirrors.
Paint and polish. A small investment in paint, stain or polyurethane will restore faded walls and worn woodwork and make your home look and smell fresh
Call the plumber if necessary. Make sure there are no leaking faucets, clogged or slow drains, or low water pressure.
Re-caulk all tubs. Nothing turns a buyer off faster than mold in the bathtub caulk!
Keep stairways and corridors clean and free of clutter so that they are attractive and safe.
Consider the big picture—be sure the attic is presentable, the garage is neat and preferably empty, the basement is tidy, closets are clean, neat and well organized.
Look at the house through the eyes of a buyer. Highlight strengths, focus on features and bring out the best in your house.