Getting Your Home Ready to Show

What to do Inside:

1. Clean! Clean! Clean!
Have the carpet shampooed, wax the floors, wash the walls, windows, blinds, drapes and lighting fixtures. Consider it a justified moving expense.

2. Kitchen and Bathrooms
Clear off counter tops. Leave canisters and little else. Maximize the available counter space. These rooms should be gleaming. If unsightly, have the tub re-caulked and remove mineral deposits and grime from the shower walls. Clean the stove, microwave and refrigerator.

3. Primary Storage Area
Remember, you can clean and pack now and benefit with a more attractive home on the market, or you can do it several months from now, in the process of moving when there is no advantage. Do it now!

4. Repairs
Identify and repair dripping faucets, sticking or creaking doors etc. When people see an area of disrepair they begin to wonder where there are other unseen problems.

5. Closets
Remove out of season clothing. Organize your clothes and shoes. Remove all clutter from cabinets and closets.

6. Furniture
The less furniture, the larger a room appears to be.

7. A light appearance
As a rule, do everything to lighten the appearance of the home. Raise the blinds, open the drapes and use light colors. Re-paint any room beginning to look shabby.


What to do outside:

1. The House
Take a close look as you walk the property. Clean anything that looks unkempt or dirty, repair or replace anything that looks loose, dingy, rusted or broken. Make sure the door bell works. Replace a tired looking mailbox, clean the exterior light fixtures and wash the windows. Try to spot hanging or rusty gutters, crooked antennae, loose shingles or shutters.

2. The Yard
Weed the flowerbeds, trim the trees and shrubs. Plant gound cover and flowers. Mend the fence, fix the gate latch. Pick up a little, Consider a landscaping lawn service.

3. Outdoor Furniture
Examine and spot paint your outdoor furniture. If it's rusty or not repairable, get rid of it.

4. Front Entry
It's the first thing your buyers see as they stand and wait for the door to open. It's worth the extra effort to spruce it up.

5. The Garage
The time has come. Dispose of everything in the garage that hasn't been used for a year. Wash it down.