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