Preparing Your Home to Sell Checklist

Once you have decided to list your home and get it on the market, you may find yourself wondering where to begin. What needs to be done to prepare your home in order to get maximum and positive exposure? The following checklist will help you organize some of the more important things you can do to get your home ready for the market.

1. Curb Appeal

It all begins with curb appeal. First impressions can make or break a sale, therefore with a little time spent sprucing up the front exterior of your home, prospective home buyers will be drawn in and want to see the rest of the home. Here are a few exterior tips.

• Make sure shrubs and trees are trimmed
• Keep grass cut
• Flower beds and gardens should be weeded
• All outdoor lighting should be in working order
• Front door should be in good shape and stained or painted if necessary
• Wash windows
• Siding should be washed or stained
• Keep sidewalks free of snow in the winter

2. Place all valuables in a safe place.

3. De-clutter closets and cupboards which will give them a roomier appearance.

4. Remove any excess furniture that maybe be taking up more space than necessary. You want rooms to feel open and airy.

5. Depersonalize your home, by removing many photos and any collections that may distract prospective home buyers (don't over do it because you still want the home to feel lived in and a few photos left behind are not a bad idea).

6. Keep things neutral. Fresh neutral paint to remove bold paint and dated wallpaper is a great idea to give your home a nice fresh feel. Neutral carpet throughout the home also helps to make your home appear bigger.

7. Repair and replace the things that you know need to be done. This is especially important if you have cracks or holes in your walls. Small maintenance items can and often do become bigger items when it comes time to a home inspection.

8. Lighting in your home should be in working order and replace bulbs where necessary.

9. Have carpet and window coverings cleaned.

10. Doors, windows and cabinets should be cleaned and free from any squeaking.

11. The addition of colorful plants will freshen up the interior of your home.

12. De-clutter kitchen counters. Remove small appliances that do not have to be there.

13. Never leave dirty dishes in the sink.

14. Thoroughly clean all bathroom and kitchen fixtures. This is often one area that Buyers will scrutinize and often make their decision on the overall quality of the home from the cleanliness of these two areas.

15. Repair or replace leaky faucets.

16. Only leave fresh towels in the bathroom(s). Make sure you empty the garbage(s) in the bathroom.

17. Flooring in the kitchen and bathrooms should be washed and waxed (if necessary)

18. Clean mirrors.

19. If you have a pet, remove any odors that may be displeasing to prospective buyers.

20. Tidy and organize the garage.

This checklist is to be used as a guide in preparing your home for the market. For more detailed design and decorating tips when showing your home, you may want to have a look at our Home Staging page.