This is an important question to ask yourself when preparing to sell your home. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be done to your property so that it looks its best.
Basement, Attic, Garage
- Clean out attic, basement, and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move. Package everything you won?t need until you?re settled in your new home.
- Make sure there is plenty of light on the stairs to the basement.
- If your basement is dark and gloomy, paint the ceiling and walls a light color.
- Repair cracks in the basement floor with ready-mixed concrete.
- Vacuum garage floor and rafters.
- Stack items neatly against walls to look larger.
Kitchen
- The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Make it bright and attractive. If dull, paint cabinets and/or put up bright new curtains.
- Clean the ventilating hood in the kitchen.
- If the kitchen floor is badly worn put down new flooring. If a single tile is loose, apply heat to the tile with an iron covered with a soft cloth to soften the adhesive, then replace the tile.
- Remove any appliances that you keep on your counters, like a roaster, coffee maker, can opener, etc.
- Clean the counters to make the room look larger.
- Leave a luscious smell in the kitchen (i.e. vanilla, cinnamon-apple, tea, etc.)
Bathroom
- Repair dripping faucets.
- Keep fresh towels in the bathroom.
- Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, bathtubs and sinks, keep sinks and mirrors shining.
- Keep a solid deodorizer in the bathroom area.
- Replace old caulking around tubs.
Living Areas
- Have all plaster in top shape. Cracks (or nail-pops, visible seams in dry wall) are easy to fix.
- Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair the ceiling and repaint.
- If painting and re-decorating, stick to conventional white and easy- to-work-with neutrals.
- If you have a fireplace, clean it out and lay some logs in it to make it look inviting.
- Wash windows and replace any broken glass. Make sure all windows will open and close.
- Replace burned-out light bulbs. Use brighter bulbs.
- Be sure every light switch works.
- Make the floors shine. Repair any creaking boards or stair treads (drive two long finishing nails at opposing angles through the floor and sub-floor into the joist).
- Use room deodorant to eliminate musty odors. Lubricate any sticky or squeaking doors.
- For doors that stick slightly, rub a block of paraffin against the surface that shows signs of wear.
- For sliding doors that stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax.
Exterior
- Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight. A well-manicured lawn, neatly clipped shrubbery, cleanly swept walks create a good first impression.
- Cut back over-grown shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.
- Paint your house if necessary. This can do more for sales appeal than any other factor. If you decide against painting, at least consider painting front shutters and windows frames.
- In winter, walks should be free of snow and ice.
- Inspect the roof and gutters. Any missing shingles to replace?
- Consider putting flowers outside the front door.
- Repaint the front door.
- Repair broken outdoor steps.
- Keep lawn closely cut and edged.