Before you place your home on the market you can increase the value and speed up the sales process of your home by following the recommendations listed below. We recommend that you give us a call to meet at your home and help you identify the areas of your home that need improvement and which areas are fine. The more you prepare your home for sale the more it will appeal to buyers and increase the chance of strong offers.
EVALUATE
1. Have a Realtor®, interior decorator or professional organizer walk through your home to evaluate what needs to be updated, repaired or removed
REPAIR
2. Patch damaged walls
3. Replace cracked floor tiles
4. Oil squeaky doors
5. Fix sticky windows
6. Fix leaky faucets and toilets
7. Re-caulk tubs and sinks
8. Replace broken windows and screens
UPDATE
9. Replace cabinet knobs and pulls
10. Update lighting fixtures, if needed
11. Update blinds, if needed
12. Replace faucets and shower heads, if needed
PAINT
13. Paint the interior in neutral colors
14. Paint exterior doors and window trim
15. Paint shutters
16. Repaint exterior, if needed
BRIGHTEN
17. Take down heavy window treatments that block light
18. Wash all windows
19. Increase the wattage of light bulbs
20. Replace dark lamp shades
DEPERSONALIZE
21. Remove family photos
22. Store knickknacks
DE-CLUTTER
23. Thin out the books on your shelves
24. Empty kitchen counters
25. Place out-of-season clothing in storage
26. Rent a storage unit to store unneeded items
ORGANIZE
27. Organize pantry
28. Organize closets
29. Organize basement
30. Organize garage and shed
CLEAN
31. Clean all interior surfaces
32. Wash windows and doors
33. Air out and clean in cabinets and under sinks
34. Power wash exterior of house and sidewalks
35. Clean outdoor furniture
36. Clean porch lights of cobwebs and debris
HIDE SIGNS OF PETS
37. Remove pet smells
38. Hide pet food and bowls
39. Take pets for a walk during showings or send them to day care during open houses
STAGE INSIDE
40. Reduce the amount of furniture in each room
41. Organize furniture to create seating areas and give each part of the home a purpose
42. Place cut flowers around home during showings
PRUNE AND LANDSCAPE
43. Remove dead plants
44. Prune or replace overgrown shrubs.
45. Fill open spots with seasonal flowers
46. Add fresh mulch to beds
STAGE OUTSIDE
47. Make sure front porch/entryway is clean and inviting
48. Use outdoor furniture to create inviting spaces
Sources: HGTV, Real Estate Staging Association, Moneycrashers.com
