Preparing Your Home for The Market

Preparing Your Home For The Market

In 15 Seconds Your Home Will Make a First Impression 

4 Factors Control the Sale of Any Property

1. Price 

2. Terms

3. Marketing

4. Condition

Price and Condition

It Is Most Important to Have Price and Condition Perfected when Your Property First Goes on The Market

Use the Checklist

Fix What Needs Fixing

Let’s Get Started

Presence and Stature

General Exterior

Front Yard

• Shrubs and landscaping should enhance, not hide, the home. Shrubs should be lowered to, at most, the height of the home.
• As a rule of thumb, all tree limbs should be far enough from the ground so you can walk under them.
• Flowers add color and beauty to the home. Flowerbeds should be clean, and look good in all seasons. Make sure all beds have a sharp edge and are free of leaves and debris.
• Keep the lawn mowed and neatly edged. A perfectly mowed lawn does wonders for presence. You may have to mow twice per week during the growing season.
• Aerate and seed any bare or thin spots in your lawn. Consider using sod if necessary.
• Arrange for a lawn fertilization company to set up an accelerated program to keep your lawn a deep green color and weed-free.
• Mulch will do wonders to boost the presence and stature of your home at any time of the year. Always make sure all beds are freshly mulched. During the winter, at the very least, the front yard and approach beds should be mulched.
• Check your flower beds, lawn areas, and driveway for weeds. It is better to pull them than to use chemicals. Chemicals take a long time to work and the dead and dying weeds look awful as they go from yellow to brown. Only use herbicides to maintain these areas once the main weeding has been completed.
• In the fall, be sure to rake leaves from your lawn and planting beds. This may need to be done every couple of days.
• Inspect your property and remove all trash cans, discarded wood scraps, and trash. Re-stack wood piles if necessary and remove all storage containers, children’s toys, and other unnecessary objects.
• Make sure windows are spotless. This includes frames around the windows, the sills, and shutters.
• Consider painting or cleaning any ornamental fences, light posts, and railings.
• Vacuum out and clean the glass on all of the exterior light fixtures.
• If you have a covered entryway, add a bench or attractive set of chairs to help people imagine themselves relaxing here. If these items already exist, make sure they are clean, inviting, and someplace a person could sit.

General Exterior - Other Yard Areas

• Now, open up, and clear any pathways to water or other Amenities on your property. This includes trimming low-hanging branches. It is important to remove these items as they should not line the path. Clean up, rake, and check any shoreline or beach areas.
• Keep the driveway swept. If not paved, rake and add more gravel if needed.
• Clean gutters and wash or paint the trim if needed.
• Consider an exterior low-pressure washing.

General Exterior - Front Door

• Consider a fresh coat of paint or varnish on the front door. At the very least, clean the door and hardware.
• Make sure your doorbell not only functions but is not cracked or broken.
• Keep your porch swept.
• Have an attractive welcome mat for people to wipe their feet. A second mat inside is important during bad weather.
• Make sure the mailbox is clean, and consider the cost of rust-proof paint.
• Verify house numbers are large and visible. We want to make sure buyers and agents can find your home.

Inside Appeal

• Get the home aired out. Someone who lives in a place is the last person to notice any peculiar odor that may be obvious to visitors. However, if you do notice any bad odor, search for and destroy its source.
• Wash all the windows inside and out. Clean the window sills and the bottoms of the window jambs. Wash the blinds and vacuum the drapes.
• If your carpets look dirty or have not been cleaned in over a year, clean them. Buyers only know what they see not the way it is going to be. Unless your home is a “fixer”, badly worn or very out-of-date carpets should be replaced before coming on the market. Offering a buyer a credit to pick their new carpet or a discount off the price is far less effective and usually ends up costing more money and slowing down the selling process. Pick a light-colored short plush or Berber carpet. Realtor beige is a safe color.
• Clean or polish all floors.
• Clean all the closets, cabinets, and drawers. Get rid of things you have not used in the past 5 years and pack everything that you have not used the past year (this will also give you a head start on moving).
• Make sure the closets look like they have enough room to hold additional items. Make sure doors do not stick and nothing will fall out when opened. Get everything off the floor (unless very neatly arranged) and do not have the shelves piled to the ceiling. If necessary, box up off-season clothes (this is another head start on moving). All coats should be facing in the same direction.
• There should not be too much furniture in the rooms. You will be far better off selecting the pieces that look best and putting the others in the garage or storage.
• Make sure fireplace mantels are not overloaded with items on display. A couple of well-placed items like a vase or small flower arrangement are all that is needed.
• Make the fireplace a focal point, the star of the room. Arrange seating to face the fireplace. Remove the television, if large and in a formal living room.
• Clear the ashes out of any fireplace if it is not being used.
• Clear out family photos and all other items that say “You do not live here” to a potential buyer. Fill any holes and touch up paint from taking them down.
• Put maximum safe wattage of light bulbs in all fixtures.
• Clean all wall switches and replace broken plates.
• Make sure that any pull-down staircase is strong enough to be used safely.
• Consider whether the posters currently in your children’s rooms are likely to offend any buyers. If so, store those posters for now.
• Remove all ashtrays. If there is a smoker in the residence, all smoking must be outside (not in a garage) while the property is on the market.
• Invest in some new and luxurious bedding (comforter, sheets, and accent pillows). You can take them when you move, and they will improve the look of the bedrooms while your current house is on the market.
• If your house is the least bit dated, consider changing items that will increase your home’s desirability such as dated wallpaper, light fixtures, etc.

Inside Appeal - Kitchen

• Clean the oven and keep it clean; even if this means eating out (or getting deliveries) more often.
• After cleaning the range, put new drip pans under the burners or foil over the old ones.
• Clean around the seal of the dishwasher door.
• Look at the kitchen as if you were a health home inspector. Paying particular attention to: Garbage areas, Cracks, and Corners.
• Make certain you get rid of all junk, broken, or cracked dishes. Also, remove disorganized items that have accumulated in the kitchen drawers and cabinets.
• Keep everything put away that can be put away, especially on counters.
• Check the cabinet doors and door handles for fingerprints.

Inside Appeal - Laundry Room

• Put soaps and supplies in cabinets or containers.
• Keep counters and sink clean and empty.
• This is one room to take special care with lighting. Many laundry rooms are way too dark. Upgrade wattage in light fixtures if safe to do so.

Inside Appeal - Bathrooms

• Repair all leaky faucets.
• Caulk bathtubs, showers, and sinks.
• Coordinate towels in one or two colors. Fold clean towels in thirds and hang them onto racks each day. Purchase new towels if necessary.
• Clear all items out of shower stalls and tubs except for necessities.
• Clean or replace shower curtains.
• If necessary, remove the shower door for cleaning. Use a solution of one part muriatic acid to 10 parts water (use goggles when mixing), then scrub with a plastic scouring pad and rinse clean.
• Fresh flower arrangements do wonders for a bathroom, both in appearance and aroma. No plug-in air fresheners or scented candles.
• If you have pets, be sure to clean around their food areas and empty litter boxes frequently.

Inside Appeal - Garage

• Clean and sweep the garage. Consider painting walls flat white and floors light gray.
• Store any dangerous tools and arrange others neatly. Use containers and toolboxes as necessary.
•  Vacuum pipes around the heating system are visible.

Preparing for Photography Appointment

Exterior

• Front and rear yards should be clear of lawn equipment, toys, and debris.
• Schedule a mowing for the day before if possible.
• Garage doors should be closed.
• Cars should be in the garage or parked on the street away from the front of the house, if possible.
• Clear lawns and gardens of leaves and fallen branches.
• Close the lid on the grill and open any deck or patio umbrellas, no matter the time of year. Built-in grills need to be spotless.
• Tidy piled up hoses, lawn decorations, etc.
• If you have a pet, please pick up any messes in the yard and remove the pet from the home for your photography appointment.

Interior

• Turn on all lights to make the home as bright as possible.
• Open all window cover-ups and shades completely.
• Clear all unnecessary articles from countertops, coffee tables, dressers, and bathrooms.
• Remove items that would impact the buyers’ ability to focus on the home such as family photos, collectibles, piles of magazines/books, coats, boots, etc.
• Beds should be made and all unnecessary articles should be removed from floors and doorways.
• If you have any photos, reading materials, videos, or other items that would not be appropriate for all age groups to see, please put them away.
• Put pet food dishes and litter boxes out of view of the camera.

Showtime

• Open all drapes and window shades.
• Open all doors between rooms to give an inviting feeling.
• Turn on all lights including lamps.
• Turn off the TV.
• Look around for clutter, including newspapers and magazines, and clear it away.
• See that the kitchen counters are free of unnecessary items and that any dirty dishes are put away.
• Remember to take out the trash. If you have pets, get them out of the way and take care of their food and/or litter area.
• Make sure beds are made and clothes are picked up.
• Verify that the bathroom is straightened up: Toilet lids down, Countertops cleared off, and Towels hung neatly.
• If it is fireplace season or you have a gas log, light the fire as buyers arrive.
• No air fresheners or scented candles. They can aggravate allergies and create an image of covering up or masking issues.
• Keep your home well light. Buyers will drive by at odd hours and you want your home to stand out. Keep ample lights on both inside and out until at least 9:00 pm every day.