Real Estate Power Hour: How to Prepare Your Home for a Successful Sale

The first impression of a house on a potential buyer is the most important. The first thing a salesperson should do is clean, clean, and then clean some more. Freshly painted walls and doors will also have a positive impact.

This article will provide home sellers with specific advice on preparing a home for a successful sale. It is based on real life experience of reviewing hundreds of available homes for sale and listening to feedback from buyers.

1. Mowing the lawn; keep it well edged; trim bushes; remove weeds. Curb appeal is important. Most homebuyers form an opinion about a property before they even walk into it.

2. Paint front door and polish or replace front door hardware and mat. The front door is one of the first things a potential buyer will see when they come to view the home. Make it look nice and attractive.

3. Make sure the doorbell works with a nice chime and can be heard from the front door.

4. All lights must be working; replace bulbs as needed. Consider cleaning light surfaces to ensure they get the brightest light possible. Consider increasing the wattage of the bulbs. Make sure all rooms have strong lighting. Do not try to hide blemishes in low lighting. it does not work

5. Replace cracked screens and cracked windows.

6. Repair cracks, holes and discoloration on the walls; consider painting the house. It is usually money well spent. This is probably one of the cheapest and most effective ways to improve the attractiveness of your home to a potential buyer.

7. Clean driveway and garage of any stains. Consider borrowing or renting a power washer if you don’t have one. If possible, move boxes and other items from the garage to a storage unit. Clutter in the garage can indicate that the house is too small and the garage is being used for storage.

8. Parking vehicles in the garage or on the street; leave the roadway clear.

9. Consider adding some color to the front yard; Potted plants and flowers can help enhance the home’s first impression.

10. Make sure the garage door works smoothly.

11. Shampoo or replace carpeting; Neutral floor colors help you sell your home faster. Large home improvement companies often have great deals on carpet installation.

12. Clean the floors, particularly the caulk on tile floors.

13. Fix squeaky or sticky doors and windows.

14. Tighten all cabinet doors and repair/replace any loose cabinet or door knobs. Consider replacing the knobs if the old ones are worn.

15. Paint the interior of the house a light neutral color or white, as it makes the house appear larger and cleaner. Consider painting one or two accent walls.

16. Make the windows shine and clean the window coverings.

17. Fix all leaky faucets and newly sealed tubs and showers.

18. Make sure all toilet seats are new or look new and are securely attached.

19. Replace shower curtains.

20. Make sure fans are running properly without excessive noise or vibration.

21. Make sure all kitchen appliances are spotless and in working order.

22. Remove and put away all clutter (photos, knick-knacks, and collectibles) in the house; you are showing your house, not your stuff.

23. Organize and clean all closets, pantries, and storage areas. When buyers see clutter, they often think there isn’t enough storage space in the house.

24. Move extension cords out of sight.

25. Keep the washer and dryer empty. Most people feel uncomfortable seeing other people’s clothes.

26. Keep the laundry room neat and clean.

27. Replace air conditioning air filters.

28. Make beds; Wash the dishes; empty bins.

29. Put away the toys.

30. Put “display towels” in bathrooms.

31. Freshen the air; aroma of potpourri or baked bread; deodorize pet areas; set a comfortable temperature.

32. Consider having some fresh flowers with you at all times.

33. Turn off the television; play soft music in the background. Light jazz or contemporary music works great.

34. Curtains open; turn on the lights. The rooms will seem bigger.

35. The pool and spa, including equipment, must be kept clean and in working order.

36. Water sources must also be kept clean. If possible, turn on the water fountains during the screening.

As you go through the process of selling your home, keep this list handy and refer to it before each appointment to show it.