Little
touches make a big difference when you're trying to show prospective buyers
all the great amenities your home has to offer.
These suggestions - -
most of which cost very little in time or money - will help bring you
more dollars at the closing table - and in a shorter time.
1- Open the drapes, pull up the shades and let in the sunlight.
2- Turn on all lights, day or night just before showing.
3- Install higher wattage light bulbs.
4- Remove clutter from each room to create spaciousness.
5- Clean your home from top to bottom!
6- Wash all windows, inside and out. Keep sills dusted.
7- Curtains should be fresh, clean and attractive, blinds dust- free.
8- Have family members remove their shoes before coming in. Shoes should
be put away immediately.
9- Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers.
10- Put family photos away. Prospective buyers will find it easier to
imagine their own mementoes there.
11- Create a feeling of spaciousness in every room by removing unnecessary
and/or shabby furniture, knickknacks, toys, old magazines and newspapers.
12- Highlight your fireplace in your decorating.
13- Have a game plan to get the home in order quickly when your agent
calls for an appointment.
14- Air out your home before each showing; lightly spray rooms with non-
scented air freshener or microwave a small dish of vanilla extract.
15- Shampoo carpets and vacuum them daily.
16- If the carpet does not clean up well, replace it.
17- Clean out the fireplace and keep it clean.
18- Make the beds and keep them that way during non- sleeping hours.
19- Keep laundry area sparkling and free of dirty clothing.
20- Wash clothing every day and/or use attractive storage hampers.
21- Organize your closets to make them look larger. Remove out- of- season
clothes and store elsewhere.
22- Keep bathrooms immaculately clean.
23- Replace toilets and/or seats if you cannot get them clean.
24- Replace stained shower curtains and keep them clean.
25- Repair drippy faucets and remove rust stains from sinks.
26- Wipe down the shower or tub after each use.
27- Replace stained caulk around tubs.
28- Put out fresh towels for showings.
29- The kitchen should always be clean and uncluttered.
30- Expand counter space by removing small appliances.
31- Remove magnets from the refrigerator.
32- Just before a showing set the kitchen table for dinner.
33- Remove grease from range hoods, ovens, stovetops, and walls.
34- Clean the oven.
35- You'll make basement, garage, tool shed and storage areas look much
larger and cleaner by removing unnecessary items. Rent a storage area
for stuff you want to keep but need to get out of the house or have a
yard sale.
36- Fix the front door bell.
37- Invest in a new doormat.
38- Remove smoke and pet odors. Re- paint, if necessary; don't allow smoking
indoors while home is on the market.
39- Paint all inside walls off- white. First coat should be a sealer to
eliminate lingering odors, especially if there are smokers in your house.
40- De- personalize teenager rooms and decorate in a neutral color. Remove
posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty holes resulting from
nails before painting.
41- Clean or paint the basement walls, stairs and floor.
42- Repair or replace doors and/or windows and screens that don't open
easily. Repair torn screens.
43- Install matching door knobs on all interior doors.
44- Repair or replace broken or loose banisters and handrails.
45- Repair or replace broken floor and wall tiles.
46- Repair or replace loose wallpaper.
47- If the basement shows any signs of water or structural damage it may
be necessary to obtain a structural engineer's report.
48- Water and prune indoor plants. Remove stragglers.
49- Use plants lavishly in transitional areas of your home between inside
and out.
50- Remove extension cords and cover exposed wires and outlets.
51- Just before a showing, open doors to areas you want the potential
buyer to see, such as walk- in closets, pantries, attic, and basement.
Close all other closet doors and cabinets.
52- Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it out. Organize
contents.
53- Add visual appeal to stairways with pictures or plants.
54- Keep the yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered.
55- Remove toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly furniture and trash from the
yard. Conceal trashcans.
56- Prune trees and shrubs. Mow the lawn regularly and weed planter beds.
57- Use flowering plants to dress up yard, walkways and patio.
58- Coil hoses neatly on hangers and place garden equipment on racks or
store them out of sight.
59- Outdoor furniture should be clean and in tip- top shape.
60- Stack firewood neatly or store out of sight.
61- Paint or repair the mailbox; replace if necessary.
62- Make all minor repairs to the exterior.
57- Porches, steps, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house
should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition.
58- Paint inside garage walls and floor.
59- Scrub appliances located in the garage to include the hot water heater.
60- Pressure wash stains off driveway. Paint, if necessary.
61- Make sure the garage door(s) opens easily. Fix and paint it/them if
needed.
62- Paint entrance doors a bright hue that complements the color of your
house. Invest in new hardware if necessary.
63- Hang a welcoming wreath in keeping with the season on your front door.
64- Shades and awnings should be in good condition.
65- Create an inviting outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.
66- Highlight your pool area and gardens with lighting, benches, planters
and flowering plants.
67- Take evening photos and leave them in the house where prospective
buyers can see how pretty your home looks at night.
68- Take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping now if you are
planning to sell your home later. Display these photos in your home in
the wintertime.
69- Clean and shine accessories, light switches, and ceiling fans.
70- Clean, repair and paint gutters and downspouts.
71- Replace missing shingles or roof tiles. If the roof leaks fix it!
72- Clean (or paint) outside chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.
73- Painting the outside of your home can help convince a prospective
buyer that your home has been well maintained.
74- Arrive at an equitable asking price using a competitive market analysis
from your knowledgeable Freedom Realty agent.
75- Don't be afraid to accept the first offer. Sometimes it's the best
one.
76- Leave home when your agent brings in prospective buyers.
77- Never volunteer information to a prospective buyer. Let your Freedom
agent handle questions on your behalf.
78- Obtain a floor plan of your home if possible.
79- Assemble house records for buyer perusal. These can include recent
utility bills, survey, copy of deed, repair warranties, report from a
professional home inspector.
80- Provide a map of the area and highlight special interest items.
81- Consider ONLY offers presented in writing - - and only those coming
from buyers who have been pre- qualified by lenders.
