When you sell your home you want to maximize your home’s value without spending a lot of cash. That’s why we put together a bunch of tips to help you get your home ready for the market.
Carpet & Flooring Improvements:
- Thoroughly clean and deodorize your carpets. Consider hiring a professional if you had any pets living in the home
- Replace any worn or taste specific carpet with a neutral colored carpet
- Polish your hardwood floors, if they are in poor condition consider getting them refinished
- Vacuum and mop the floors
- Replace any broken tiles and clean the grout
- Replace worn out vent covers
- Thoroughly clean bathroom and kitchen floors
- Replace worn linoleum with neutral tile
Clean & De-Clutter Improvements:
- Appliances should be cleaned – inside and out
- Clean all curtains, drapes and blinds or purchase neutral ones that let in lots of light
- Clean or purchase new front door accessories
- Clean the entryway and remove ALL clutter
- Clean the inside of all kitchen and bathroom cabinets
- Keep all closets and cabinets neat, tidy and organized
- Clean windowsills
- Doors should be oiled and squeak-free
- Empty trash cans, recycling bins and remove ash trays
- Exterminate any insect problems
- Get rid of odors (pet, food)
- Get rid of clutter and excess furnishings by having a garage sale, donating items or putting them in storage
- Keep bookshelves, entertainment units organized neatly
- Keep screens clean and vacuumed
- Keep shower curtains fresh and free from mildew
- Keep stairways and corridors clear
- Make bathrooms sparkle; sinks, toilets and tubs should be immaculate
- Remove appliances from kitchen counters to give a look of spaciousness
- Hire a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market
- Do not leave anything lying out.
- Remember people will look in your closets but they don’t look under beds so consider using under bed storage solutions.
Interior Painting Improvements:
- Replace damaged wallpaper. Consider removing the wallpaper and painting the walls a neutral color.
- All woodwork like stairwell railings and doors should be repainted and/or stained
- Have leaks repaired & watermarks covered
- Repair any cracks and repaint the home if necessary
- The windows should be washed and stain free.
- Paint over any rooms with dark or bright colors with white or neutral paint
Lighting Improvements:
- Clean all switch plates
- Clean all windows, inside and out
- Clean skylight for leaves and other debris
- Increase the wattage of bulbs to maximum possible wattage
- Install dimming switches in common rooms such as dining rooms and living rooms to allow you to create lighting for different occasions
- Turn on lights so home is well lit during showing
- Wipe all light fixtures with a rag and cleaning solution
- Make sure all lighting fixtures are in working condition and the bulbs are not burned out
Plumbing & Electrical Improvements:
- All drains should be clean and free flowing
- All toilets should be in good working order
- Clean up, paint or replace old plumbing fixtures in all bathrooms
- Have your well or septic inspected or repaired
- If needed, hire a plumber to replace badly rusted and corroded plumbing pipes
- Inspect, clean and change filter of furnace
- Make sure that all bathroom and kitchen faucets are in good working order
- Make sure that all smoke and burglar alarms are functional
- Remove mildew stains and repair any loose, crumbling caulk or grout around tile and tub areas
- Repair broken doorbell
- Service sprinkler system
Staging Improvements:
- Clean fireplace and prepare with logs for display
- Consider lighting up the fireplace during the colder months
- Hang artwork on the walls
- Remove any personal family photos and religious items
- Hang extra clean towels in the bathroom for your guests
- Have a fresh vase of flowers on the kitchen table to add appeal
- Have beds made
- Lock pets up away from home during showings
- Remove all unnecessary articles in basement or attic
- Remove magnets and notes from refrigerator
- Set the dining room table for a dinner party
- Stage garage – clean up oily floors, straighten tools and other equipment
- Tag or remove items not included in sale (i.e. water conditioner, chandeliers, plants, drapes)
Exterior Improvements:
- Paint door, doorframe, shutters, garage door, window ledges, fixtures and mailbox
- Repair paint or re-stain fence if it is peeling, dirty or damaged
- Polish door handles and knockers
- Remove any rust from railings, downspouts or concrete
- Repair any damage to chimney
- Replace shingles or tiles missing from the roof
- Repair and clean siding, gutters, eaves, soffit and fascia
- Sand and repaint areas with blistering or peeling paint
- Seal or stain decking
- Clean up yard, remove debris and trim trees or hedges
- Keep the firewood neatly stacked
- Keep trash area clean and organized
- Keep walks, steps and driveway obstacle-free
- Mow lawn and trim edges
- Weed gardens and plant some nice seasonal plantings
- Add pops of color and curb appeal with container plantings
