Significantly influence the selling price of your house by preparing it and your property before putting it on the market. The following are suggestive guidelines for you to improve a buyer's first impression of your home. Review the checklist with your Realtor®.
Your Realtor ® should be able to help you in more detail, particularly if they have some staging experience. Before taking pictures, check to see exactly what the camera will "see". Look carefully at walls, floors and ceilings for signs of wear, marks or need for repainting. It may pay to have a professional cleaning service come and perform a thorough cleaning.
Remember that if a potential buyer sees you bursting at the seams (like bulging closets & cluttered surfaces), they will think their possessions won't fit either. Consider temporarily putting extra items in storage. A potential buyer must be able to picture the home as theirs, so it is important for you to remove all of your personal items. Think of it like; while your home is for sale, you are transitioning out.
General areas that need to be looked at include:
VIEW FROM ACROSS THE STREET
- Healthy, trimmed lawn
- Shrubs trimmed neatly
- Weed and mulch beds
- Trees, shrubs trimmed to not touch the house
- Fix broken driveway asphalt
- Edge all walkways and driveway
- Remove any loose items/clutter from grounds
HOUSE EXTERIOR
- Clean siding
- Touch up all exterior trim
- Repair, clean or paint any gates or fences
- Clean and align gutters and downspouts
- Wash or paint shutters
- Wash all windows, storms and screens
FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA - Exterior
- Clean front steps and porch
- Clean exterior light fixtures
- Put a fresh welcome mat at the entrance
- Paint or wash storm door
- Clean and wash front door
FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA - Interior
- Clear interior entry area of all clutter
- Wash, polish and replace bulbs in light fixtures
- Paint to lighten and refresh entrance area
- Reduce volume & clutter in the front hall closet
- Clean and polish the front entry floor
- Remove fingerprints, scuff marks on trim, walls
GENERAL INTERIOR
- Remove clutter, papers, unnecessary items & knick knacks
- Replace burned-out bulbs throughout the house
- Organize basement and attic storage
- Remove cobwebs from ceilings and corners
- Replace switches and outlets that don't work
- Place colorful plants around the house
- Remove paint splash on tile, floor, cabinets
- Wash, polish all door hardware and handrails
- Reorganize and clean-out all closets
- Remove or reduce the amount personalized items around like family photos.
- Clean out, sweep, organize garage
MAIN ROOMS
- Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling and trim
- Repair or replace damaged molding and trim
- Shampoo carpeting
- Refinish, clean, wax floor
- Get rid of clutter and extra knick knacks
BEDROOMS
- Repaint, re-paper, touch up walls, trim, ceiling
- Replace or clean drapes
- Shampoo carpet or clean and polish floors
- Organize and neaten all closets
- Clear off surfaces of all bedroom furniture
- Put all clothing away
- Clean out closets
KITCHEN
- Paint walls, ceiling, trim white or a light color
- Remove wax, scrub, re-polish floors
- Wash, wipe down, wax cabinets/appliances
- Thoroughly clean range and oven
- Clean out refrigerator and wash interior
- Empty dishwasher, clean around controls
- Check operation of all appliances
- Reorganize and clean out cabinets and drawers
- Neatly arrange and display dishes in cabinets
- Clear all clutter from counter tops
- Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
- Wash or replace curtains
- Clean or put away pet feeding, watering dishes
BATHROOMS
- Paint using light colors
- Scrub tile, bleach, repair grout
- Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
- Clean, polish floor as appropriate
- Clean out medicine cabinet, wash inside and out
- Seal around tubs and showers
- Check for evidence of water at toilet base
- Replace old toilet seats
- Replace shower window curtains
- Buy a set of new, color coordinated bath linens in pleasing neutral colors
- Remove clutter and products from vanity top
LAUNDRY ROOM
- Check operation of appliances and clean them
- Clean and clear clutter
- Provide adequate (bright) light to area