Getting Your House Ready to Sell

• Repair loose or squeaking boards on fences, steps and porches. Fill cracks in sidewalk or driveway.
• Wash exterior windows, repair or replace damaged screens.
• Rake or pick up fallen leaves or other debris and make sure that any loose ground cover like rocks or bark dust is evenly spread.
• Trim unruly shrubs and trees, remove any dead plants, cut and edge grass – generally make sure the landscaping looks attractive.
• If it’s been more than 5 years since the house was last painted or if you can see any peeling or deteriorating paint on siding or trim, have the exterior repainted. If the paint is newer, a thorough washing might be enough to polish it up for potential buyers.
• Power washing can be a great option to remove grime and algae from concrete, stone, pressure-treated wood, and other non-permeable materials. Never use high-pressure water on wood siding.
• Move garbage bins and other visual distractions out of view before listing photos are taken of the house.
• Remove toys, pet accessories, other clutter, and cheap looking lawn furniture or decorations.

Inside:

• Fix all the little things you may have been living with – squeaky doors, sticking drawers, unstable railings, dripping faucets. Little issues make buyers wonder if there are bigger problems that have also gone unaddressed.
• Wash windows and windowsills, dust blinds.
• Clean smudges from frequently touched surfaces like doors, railings, and appliance handles.
• Clean kitchen counters and backsplashes, cooktop surface, appliance controls and doors. Check caulking and tile grout, clean and/or repair if needed.
• Scrub all bathrooms thoroughly – go beyond a normal cleaning, making sure to wash the floors, check grout and caulking, etc. Keep glass-cleaner and paper towels on hand and do a quick spritz on mirrors and polished fixtures every day or two while your house is being shown.
• Clean all floors – polish wood floors to look their best, have carpets steam-cleaned. If your carpets are old and stained, dated or worn, be prepared for buyers to ask you to replace them or cut your price by an equivalent amount.
• Take a look at your textiles – if towels, rugs or blankets are fraying or discolored, replace them, or at least hide them away.
• Move open-topped kitchen or bathroom trashcans into cabinets. If they won’t fit into cabinets, replace with lidded cans.
• Minimize furniture – if you can remove one or two pieces of furniture from a room that initially had 3-4 or more, the room will appear more spacious and generally more attractive to buyers.
• Pack up books, knick-knacks, less-used toys and other items you aren’t likely to need before you move. Find drawer or cabinet space to stash things that normally sit out like small appliances in the kitchen, or hair dryers and toiletries in the bath. Anything remaining out on a countertop should look like part of the décor, such as fruit in an attractive bowl.
• De-personalize as much as possible – pare down family photos and large collections on display and pack away outré artworks. These personal touches can distract buyers and make it harder for them to imagine themselves in your home.
• If possible, move litter boxes and pet supplies to a garage or other out-of-the-way area. Change or scoop litter frequently to minimize odor.
• Consider a fresh coat of paint to brighten up rooms and help everything look newer. If you’ve chosen bold wall colors, replacing them with more neutral hues can help your home connect with more buyers.
• If the weather allows, open up multiple windows for a while at least once a week to freshen the air.
• Pets, smoking, and even frequent cooking can lend a pervasive odor to your home over time, so invite a friend or real estate agent you really trust over and ask for a smell check. Scents that surround you in your home every day often fade from your notice, but they can be a major turn-off to buyers. If you do have a scent problem, try deep cleaning and light use of an odor-eliminating spray instead of a scented air freshener that will just add another odor to the mix
• While your house is on the market, take extra pains to keep it neat and clean to be ready for last-minute showing requests.