Preparing Your Home for Selling

Taking the time and spending a little bit of money to make your home absolutely SHINE is crucial. I cannot tell you how many times I have taken customers to view a home and had to ask them to look beyond the clutter, chipping paint and dust. It is okay if your kitchen is outdated or the wallpaper is from the 1970s. What the buyer wants to know is that the home has been cared for over the years. This may be challenging if you have young children at home during the day but you must make it a priority. Here are some suggestions for making your home stand out in the market.

1. Remove all clutter. Keep in mind that less is more in the buyer's mind.
2. Clean until your house is spotless. If possible, hire a professional cleaning service.
3. Have your windows cleaned.
4. Strategically place extra lamps in dark corners to brighten up the rooms.
5. Touch up chipping or cracking paint, both on the interior and exterior. Paint over old water stains if there are any on your ceilings.
6. Organize every closet in your home. If necessary, put extra clothes and shoes in plastic bins and store in the basement or attic.
7. If you are living with excess furniture or furniture that is too bulky for the room, either move it around or store it. Many moving companies (which you will eventually need to hire anyway) offer temporary storage for a nominal fee.
8. If you have stained carpeting, hire a service to professionally clean. If the carpeting is truly beyond cleaning, consider pulling it out.
9. Put throw rugs where needed to "warm up" and pull a room together.
10. Clean the garage. If it is a two-car garage, make room for two cars.
11. Basement should be organized with bins, boxes, and shelves. There should be easy access to your furnace, hot water heater, and electrical box.
12. In winter, make sure the driveway and walkways are cleared.
13. In spring, summer, or fall, make sure gardens are maintained, grass is mowed, and yard is free from garbage and other junk. Fresh mulch in the garden beds is also a good idea. If necessary, plant some flowers. Put some flowers in planters on your front stoop.
14. Make sure kitty litter boxes and animal food bowls or cages are out of the way. Animal hair and smells should be eliminated as much as is possible.

Once your home is on the market, you will want to keep these tips in mind each time there is a showing.

1. Make sure the beds are made!
2. Open all shades, blinds and curtains.
3. If possible, put fresh flowers on the kitchen table or counter.
4. If your furniture is worn, drape a pretty throw and scatter throw pillows over the worn spots. Cover an ugly table with a fabric tablecloth.
5. If the kitchen smells like last night's dinner, burn a fragrant candle or open a window.
6. Take the garbage out and empty bathroom wastebaskets.
7. If you have a traditional answering machine, turn down the volume.
8. Turn on all the lights.
9. Let your realtor do the rest of the work!

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