1.
Remove
clutter and clear off counters. Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of
your small decorative items. Put excess furniture in storage, and remove
out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space. Don’t forget to
clean out the garage, too.
2.
Wash
your windows and screens. This
will help get more light into the interior of the home.
3.
Keep
everything extra clean. A
clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers
that the home has been well-cared for. Wash fingerprints from light switch
plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator. Polish your
doorknobs and address numbers. It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can
afford it.
4.
Get
rid of smells. Clean carpeting and
drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows to
air out the house. Potpourri or scented candles will help.
5.
Brighten
your rooms. Put higher wattage bulbs
in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements. Replace any burned-out
bulbs in closets. Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of
neutral color paint.
6.
Don’t
disregard minor repairs. Small
problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping
faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house
isn’t well-maintained.
7.
Tidy
your yard. Cut the grass, rake the
leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the
gutters. For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the
entryway.
8.
Patch
holes. Repair any holes in your
driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9.
Add a
touch of color in the living room. A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room.
Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
10.
Buy a
flowering plant and put it near a
window you pass by frequently.
11.
Make
centerpieces for your tables. Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
12.
Set
the scene. Set the table with fancy
dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help
buyers picture living there. For example, in the basement you might display a
chess game in progress.
13.
Replace
heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light. Show off the view if you have one.
14.
Accentuate
the fireplace. Lay fresh logs in the
fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
15.
Make
the bathrooms feel luxurious. Put away those old towels and toothbrushes. When buyers enter your
bathroom, they should feel pampered. Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and
fancy guest soaps. Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.
16.
Send
your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that’s not possible, crate them or confine
them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate
practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.
17.
Lock
up valuables, jewelry, and money. While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing
or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.
18. Leave
the home. It’s
usually best if the sellers are not at home. It’s awkward for prospective
buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you
there.
For more information call Fred Yancy, Realtors LLC (678) 922-2463 or visit our website.