No matter how good the interior of your home looks, buyers have already judged your home before they walk through the door. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. It’s essential to make people feel warm, welcome, and safe as they approach the house. Spruce up your home’s exterior with inexpensive shrubs, mulch, and brightly colored flowers. Remember we are going to sell your house, so get ready to move!   

General Tips: 

Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hard floors, clean counter tops, and clean windows)

Turn all overhead lights and lamps ON and Replace all burned out light bulbs, 

Use bulbs of the same temperature (ALL incandescent is BEST)

Turn all ceiling fans, TVs, Computer screens OFF

Open blinds/window treatments 

Remove personal photographs

Remove small floor rugs to reveal actual flooring

Place all shoes/jackets in closets

Tidy / Hide all power leads / cables

Remove piles of mail, newspapers, and magazines. 

Exterior Front:

Close garage doors

Remove cars from the driveway and front of the home

Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)

Remove empty planters

Use a broom to remove cobwebs from eaves and door frames

Remove visible water hoses

Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc. 

Exterior Back:

Ensure the pool is clean

Remove all pool cleaners,  poles, and all pool toys

Clean porch, tidy up outdoor tables/chairs/cushions

Pillows/cushions should be fresh, not faded

Clear out kid's toys, balls, frisbees, etc.

Clean pool Remove pool vacuum/cleaner hose.

Hide pool cleaning supplies

Turn on pool fountains/water features

Remove visible water hoses

Remove trash cans

Kitchen:

Clear countertops completely

No knife blocks, baking supplies, mail, etc.

Leave out a max of one small appliance (ex. coffee maker)

Clear the outside of the refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.

Hide garbage cans in the pantry or closet

Remove dishes from sink, place in dishwasher

Dining Room:

Clear the table, dust and polish the tabletop

Use decorative place setting if available

Feature one centerpiece such as a bouquet of flowers

Straighten all chairs and space them evenly

Remove child seats/booster chairs

Living Room:

Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.

De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth (no more than 5 items, including art)

Clean the interior of the fireplace and re-paint if needed

Fluff and arrange furniture pillows

Remove kid's toys

Clean all windows inside and out

Remove piles of mail, newspapers, and magazines.

Bedrooms:

Make the bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available

Press bed linens and bed skirts

Clear nightstands of all personal items

Store away phone/tablet charging cables

Remove all clutter from the top of dressers

Remove family photos from walls

Clean under the bed, removing items that may show in the photos

Remove personalized names from walls

Remove wall stickers/posters

Remove diaper genies

Bathrooms:

Make sure the glass and mirrors are spotless

Clear countertops completely

No soap, toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.

Put toilet seats down

Close closet doors

Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs

Remove dirty towels - leave out only new, unused towels

Remove floor mats

Remove all non-matching towels.

Pets:

Place food and water bowls in the pantry or closet

Place pet beds/toys in the pantry or closet

Use a lint roller on furniture to remove pet hair

Contain pets in hidden crate or outside

No loose pets

Clear back yard of pet waste/toys