Preparing Your Home to Sell

Help your home sell successfully

When it comes time to prepare your home for showing you might want to consider hiring a professional to help. If you choose to do it yourself, here are some tips for you to think about. In doing this, you will be ahead of most of the sellers already on the market in the way your home shows.

Preparing The Inside

Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house
Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops
In the bathroom, remove items from the countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops
Be sure that the bathroom tubs, tile, sinks, shower floor, ceiling, and toilet bowls are free of mildew and look sparkling clean
Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if necessary
Take down or rearrange pictures or objects on walls
Patch and paint where necessary
Review the house inside room by room
Paint any room needing paint
Clean carpets and vacuum drapes that need it
Clean windows and cobwebs from ceilings and chandeliers
Make sure the closets and garage are not “too full”
Replace burned-out light bulbs and repair any faulty switches
Repairs and improvements will facilitate a sale being made
Make certain all rooms are odor-free

Preparing The Outside

Go around the perimeter of the house and remove all garbage cans, discarded wood scraps, extra building materials, etc, into the garage or trash
Check gutters and/or roof for leaks and/or dry rot
Weed and then mulch all planting areas
Clear patios and decks of all small items, such as small planters, flower pots, charcoal, barbecues, toys, etc
Check the paint condition on the house, especially the front door and trim
Review if shutters, shingles, stone, or bricks need replacing
Check exterior stairs and handrails; walkways, screens, and screen doors

In General

Try to look at your house “through a buyer’s eyes” as though you have never seen it before.