GET YOUR HOME READY TO SELL

PREPARE AND STAGE

1. REPAIR

Walk through every room with a fresh set up eyes (and a pen and notepad). Write down what repairs need to be done within the room.

  • Are there light bulbs that need to be changed?

  • Is your trim paint chipped?

  • Do you have minor repairs that you have been putting off? (Leaky faucets, broken handles, etc..)

  • Do you have chipped tile?

  • Do you need to re-caulk cracks?

 
 

2. PURGE, DONATE, OR SELL

This step is not only important for prospective buyers for your current house, but also for you as you think about your future house. When you move into your new house, you get the opportunity for a clean start.

PURGE

Take a look at your toiletries, in your food pantry, in your spice cabinet, in your shed/garage, your closet, and in your attic, and decide what you no longer need. You may even consider having a dumpster delivered to your driveway for an easy and quick way to get rid of the purge. Dumpsters usually run about $200 and it could be money very well spent!

DONATE

I personally feel wasteful tossing old clothes and shoes (unless they were ripped/destroyed) so I encourage you to donate anything not worn in the past year (with the exception of few special occasion items.)

SELL

There may be some items that you prefer to sell. With social media tools, selling has never been easier. (Though you can go the traditional route too of having a tag sale.) Check out your local online tag sale sites on Facebook or sell via Craigslist.You can easily make a few hundred dollars selling furniture no longer needed, children’s toys, sports equipment no longer being used, and outdoor tools.

 
 

3. DECLUTTER

A prospective buyer wants to be able to picture themselves in your house. They do not want to be reminded that someone lives there today. Give your prospective buyer an opportunity to picture themselves in your house.

Take everything off of your bathroom counters. Put your essentials in a bin or in the drawers/cabinets. Leave just the essentials like soap and lotion.

Limit what you have on your kitchen counter to just the essentials that you use daily. Do you only use your blender on occasion? If so, remove it from the counter. Keep only what you use on a daily basis.

Declutter your tables, dresser tops, nightstands, coffee tables, etc… Remove everything that isn’t decorative or absolutely necessary. 

De-personalize your house. A prospective buyer wants to be able to picture themselves in your house. Take down personal family photos (I think it’s creepy anyway to have strangers walking through your house knowing who you are!) Remove magnets, papers, pictures, etc.. from your refrigerator.

 
 

4. ORGANIZE

Potential buyers WILL look into your closets and pantries. Make your house more visually appeasing by keeping these areas organized.

  1. Organize your clothes in your closet. Nothing should be on the floor.

  2. Organize your pantry. Use bins or containers to keep your food organized.

  3. Give everything a home.

  • Those shoes that you put by the front door when you walk in… find a place in a closet for them or find a shoe rack.

  • Purses, backpacks, lunch boxes should have a home.

  • Every toy should have a bin.

 
 

5. DEEP CLEAN

  • Vacuum and/or sweep daily. 

  • Steam clean your carpets (If you do not have a steam cleaner, you can rent one at your local home improvement store or sometimes even your local grocery store.)

  • Dust (your furniture, your fans, your baseboard, anything that has a surface.)

  • Clean both the inside and outside of your windows.

  • Polish and/or clean all metal/faucets/appliances.

 
 

6. ENHANCE YOUR CURB APPEAL

The first thing that your prospective buyer is going to see is the outside. And while, we were always taught to not judge a book by its cover, well… we still do.

  • Mow your lawn.

  • Clean up leaves/branches that have fallen.

  • Trim bushes/shrubbery around your house.

  • Weed your flowerbeds.

  • Lay day fresh mulch.

  • Clean up any trash that may have blown into your yard.

  • Power wash your deck, patio, fences, windows, walkways, driveway.

 
 

7. DECORATE

  • Remove any knickknacks and replace with simple decorations like a vase of fresh flowers.

  • Remember that neutral colors are your friend. If you decide to repaint any of the rooms in your house, go with a neutral color.

  • Replace bathroom and kitchen towels with white or beige towels.

 
 

DAILY ACTIONS BEFORE A SHOWING

 

Once you have all the major items complete, your daily tasks to do for a showing shouldn’t take you long.

BEDROOMS

  • Make all beds.

  • Pick up anything on the floor.

BATHROOMS

  • Close the toilet seat.

  • Refold towels.

  • Remove anything you have put on counters.

  • Give the counters/mirror a quick wipe to remove stray toothpaste or soap marks.

KITCHEN

  • Empty sink.

  • Take out trash.

  • Remove anything on counters that are not essential.

  • Wipe counters clean.

  • Sweep/vacuum.

OTHER LIVING SPACES

  • Fold all blankets and put them away.

  • Fluff pillows on couches.

  • Pick up anything on floors (including shoes, bags, toys, etc.…)

  • Turn on a few lights.

  • Secure all valuables including computers, tablets, jewelry, keys, bills with confidential inform