Preparing Your Home for the Market and Showings
- Clean, clean, clean, everything in and out of sight. Shampoo rugs and wax floors. Wash or brush walls. Clean windows, including the valleys and frames.
- Create space by storing some of the extra furniture you’ve found useful but which often makes a crowded impression. (bureaus, bookcases, storage chests, oversized chairs)
- Place the remaining furniture so that traffic can flow easily from room to room.
- Unless you’re a skilled artist, scale down your personal artwork (portraits, landscapes), posters, signs and family photos, especially in teenager’s rooms. Create a feeling of spaciousness.
- Keep blinds and draperies open to admit as much light as possible, but screen out unappealing views.
- Make your kitchen look warm and welcoming, not like a hectic workplace. Keep your sink shining and free of dirty dishes /cloths at all times. Clean the refrigerator, stove and all surfaces.
- Keep counter tops clear, but not empty, as if unused. Adorn them with your most attractive canisters.
- Completely degrease your oven. Let the kitchen smell fresh and fragrant (with cinnamon warming in the clean oven, if you have time).
- Organize cupboards and closets. Remove debris (dust, flies, moths, etc.) from all light fixtures. At the same time replace burned out bulbs with the highest allowable wattage.
- Keep bathrooms scrubbed and tidy. Equip with fresh soap and neatly-hung matching towels.
- Get rid of all stains in sinks and bathtubs and install new washers on dripping faucets.
- Feature (with lighting or furniture arrangement) your home’s best characteristics (a fireplace, a picture window, a balcony, ceiling beams, a kitchen eating area, etc.)
- If you’ve repainted (preferably in safe neutral tones), add bold splashes of color (with your brightest throw pillows, crockery, pictures, etc.)
- Place plants in strategic spots in any room - bigger is more dramatic, if space permits.
- Light the whole house during showings, especially dark corners and hallways.
- Hang mirrors where they will reflect outdoor light, as well as make a room look larger.
- Repair broken windows and shutters, oil squeaky hinges, make sure all doors/closets close properly.
- Pets should be out of sight and out of smell.
- Spruce up around the house - paint exterior if necessary. Keep lawn and shrubbery trimmed and free of bicycles. House number should be easy to read and lit up if showing is taking place at night.
- Keep garage/car port clean and tidy.
- Put a flowering pot on the front step and keep it watered and trimmed.
- Clean off your outdoor furniture and barbeque.
- Fix doorbells, door hardware, doors. First impressions are lasting.
- Turn on air conditioner in warm weather, comfortable heat in winter. Light the fireplace.