Below you will find 44 suggestions of things you can do to improve your home’s appearance and help you prepare to sell your home faster! Of course, this is not an exhaustive list, so if you have your own sellers tip, please leave it in the comments section at the end of this post.
Outside – Curb Appeal
1. Spruce, trim and keep it green! Keep the yard mowed, and edges trimmed. Pick up debris and old newspapers every day. Plant some color or get some potted flowers.
2. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned.
3. Take down Christmas lights.
4. Fight the spider webs. Brush them down and clean up every week.
5. Porches, steps, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house should be swept and kept uncluttered.
6. Paint or clean the front door.
7. Make sure the front doorbell is in good working order.
8. Make sure the front door and screen door work perfectly.
9. Touch up trim with paint, if needed. This makes a lot of difference to the appearance of your home.
10. Let the sunshine it! Open up blinds and curtains. Leave lights on, especially in dark hallways and bathrooms.
11. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, and trash out of the yard.
12. Put unused automobiles in the garage or store them somewhere else.
13. If neighbors are friendly and cooperative and they need to remove debris from their yard, ask for their cooperation. Usually, they are helpful.
14. Cover exposed outside dirt areas with mulch or bark.
15. Clean up after pets daily.
Throughout the House
16. Touch up or repaint where needed inside.
17. Repair or replace any loose or damaged wallpaper.
18. Clean or replace carpet if it does not clean up well.
19. Have home professionally cleaned including windows, blinds, oven, and screens, light bulbs and light fixtures.
20. Keep vacuumed and dusted.
21. Spray home with “smell nice” or try boiling a cinnamon stick in a pot of water before showings to make the house smell clean and fresh. Don’t leave candles burning unattended, this is dangerous!
22. Keep the inside temperature comfortable for you visitors. Keep the A/C on during the summer and heat on during the winter. 78 degrees makes for a comfortable home!
23. Let the sunshine in! Open up blinds and curtains. Leave lights on, especially in dark hallways and baths.
24. Remove clutter from each room to visually enlarge them.
25. Remove or hide excess extension cords and exposed wires.
26. Put family photos in storage.
27. Repair or replace damaged banisters and handrails.
28. Improve traffic flow through every room by removing unnecessary furniture.
29. Open doors to areas you want potential buyers to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, etc.
In the Kitchen
30. Clear as many items from the kitchen counters as possible, including small appliances. It makes the kitchen look much bigger!
31. No dirty dishes in the sink.
32. Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for a meal.
Click to Download The Ultimate Checklist for Selling Your Home
In the Bedrooms
33. Keep the beds made.
34. Organize the closets and remove unnecessary items. Put them in storage if necessary.
35. Put away toys and other items that are lying around on the floor, beds, etc.
In the Bathrooms
36. Keep toilet lids down.
37. Clear as many items from the counters as possible.
38. Do not leave soiled towels laying around.
39. Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps.
40. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
41. Re-caulk the tub or shower if not sparkling white.
Pets
42. Make your pets as comfortable as possible through the hustle and bustle of visitors. This makes possible buyers more comfortable as well. For example, keep dogs in a crate or in the garage while the house is being shown.
43. Make sure birds, snakes, etc. are properly secured in their habitats.
44. Hang a sign to inform people not to let cats or dogs in or out. Or, if you have a good realtor like Guthrie Group Homes, they can provide one for you!
Click to Download The Ultimate Checklist for Selling Your Home
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