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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.
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Wash your windows and screens. This will
help get more light into the interior of the home.
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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.
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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.
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Brighten your rooms. Put higher wattage
bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements.
Replace any burned-out bulbs. Clean the walls, or better yet,
brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.
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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.
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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.
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Patch holes. Repair any holes in your
driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
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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.
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Buy a flowering plant and put it near
a window you pass by frequently.
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Make centerpieces for your tables. Use
brightly colored fruit or flowers.
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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.
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Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let
in more light. Show off the view if you have one.
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Accentuate the fireplace. Lay fresh logs
in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s
not in use.
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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.
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Send your pets to a neighbour 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.
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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 times.
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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.
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