Make Sure Your Home is Exciting!
We don't get a second chance to make a good first impression. Most buyers look for homes that are well cared for and bright. In general, clean and spiffy.
Checklist for Faster Sales
1. Lawns and Yard - remove clutter, cut grass, edge walks, trim hedges, weed gardens.
2. Front of House - paint, fix or wash railings, steps. Fix or replace the front door, screens, and storm door.
3. Other exterior - side or back door, gutters, wash windows.
4. Garage - straighten up, paint, fix or wash doors and windows.
5. Plumbing - repair leaking faucets, leaky toilets. Unclug drains (the home inspector will get you for this anyway).
6. Heating/Cooling - clean exterior of unit. Have unit serviced.
7. Lights - replace all burned out bulbs, faulty switches.
8. Halls and Stairs - remove any clutter to give wide appearance.
9. Hardware - oil hinges, tighten door knobs. Make sure all doors close properly, including crawl space doors.
10. General condition - dust, wash, paint, fix defects, as required.
11. Consider feeling spaciousness - store un-needed items to "enlarge"
These items are Super Critical!
12. Kitchen - stove, refrigerator, sink should be spotless, all work spaces clear.
13. Bathrooms - neat, spotless and fresh. Repair caulking around tub.
14. Closets - untidy or over crowded closets suggest inadequate storage space.
How to Help Buyers Agents Show
15. Children, pets and adults can keep buyers from feeling at ease while they look through your home during showings. Please be out of the house, if possible.
16. Tell us which rooms benefit from sunshine or cooling breezes.
17. Tell us what you like about the house, the yard, the location. We'd like husband's and wife's feelings separately.
18. Turn on all lights, or let us turn them on, for the entire showing.
19. Open drapes in the daytime, close them at night. Please open blinds to let in sunshine prior to showing appointment.
20. Strong cooking or smoking odors can ruin a sale. Make sure your home is fresh for showings. See my blog article about odors. This can be a deal-breaker for a potential buyer.
21. Small signs highlighting the special features of your home will make sure buyers see all the benefits. We'd appreciate your ideas.
Back to Home Sellers Toolkit