- Look at your home like a product.
- Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold much like a gift in a shop, it needs to be merchandized and displayed for optimum viewing.
- Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon you will be moving on and creating a new “home” somewhere else.
- Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
- Say goodbye to every room.
- Remember, memories go with you in your head. They aren’t tied to the home itself.
- Look toward the future.
- Remove your personal items.
- Remove and store personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts, and you don't want them to be distracted.
- You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! You don't want to make any buyer ask, "I wonder what kind of people live in this home?" You want buyers to say, "I can see myself living here."
- Get Rid of the Clutter!
- If you need help with this one, check out www.flylady.net. She gives you a great way to get started on clutter-free cleaning.
- If you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
- Donate it or throw it away.
- Remove all books from bookcases.
- Pack up those knickknacks.
- Clean off everything on kitchen counters. This will create the sense of space in a kitchen no matter its size.
- Flat spaces need to be clear. Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
- Think of this process as a head-start on packing.
- Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Organization also creates the illusion of space and sends the message that you take good care of your home.- Alphabetize spice jars.
- Neatly stack dishes.
- Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
- Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
- Line up shoes.
- Rent a Storage Unit.
- Don’t even consider stacking things in the garage! Just rent a storage unit for a short time and store that extra stuff. Every home shows better with less furniture.
- Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage.
- Since your bookcases are now empty, store them.
- Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger.
- Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"
- Remove/Replace Favorite Items.
- If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. Once you tell a buyer she can't have an item, she will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, if necessary.
- Make Minor Repairs.
- Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
- Re-caulk tiles or sinks or areas where mold has collected.
- Patch holes in walls.
- Fix leaky faucets.
- Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
- Consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls. (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
- Replace burned-out light bulbs and don’t skimp on these. Warm light makes areas seem welcoming.
- If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread, do so now!
- Look at your window treatments. If they are threadbare, out of date or a specialized color, remove them and replace them with a neutral color or sheer.
- Apply orange oil to cabinets that appear dry, which will renew their original luster
- HandyMan: Mend It
- Clean. Clean. Clean!
- Wash windows inside and out.
- Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
- Clean out cobwebs.
- Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
- Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
- Clean out the refrigerator.
- Vacuum daily.
- Wax floors.
- Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
- Bleach dingy grout.
- Replace worn rugs.
- Hang up fresh towels.
- Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
- Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.
- Scrutinize.
- Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside?
- Does the house welcome you?
- Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
- Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
- Make sure window coverings hang level.
- Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?
- Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.
- View your home from the street and at night. Serious buyers will drive by at all times. Check your lighting in the evenings.
- Check Curb Appeal.
- If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
- Keep the sidewalks cleared.
- Mow the lawn.
- Rake leaves during the fall.
- Paint faded window trim.
- Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together. Yellow evokes a buying emotion. Marigolds are inexpensive. During the winter, invest in pansies that can take the cold but still welcome visitors.
- Trim your bushes.
- Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
- Keep animals caged or boarded during showings.