Home Prepping to Sell Faster and for Top Dollar

Let’s Begin Outside: Stand across the street, and take a look at your house from a potential buyer’s view point.
  • Is your drive and road way clear of too many parked cars?
  • Is your lawn trimmed and are there spots in need of re-seeding? Get landscaping in top shape. In the winter shovel the driveway clear of snow.
  • Remove all refuse, leaves or clutter from yards, sidewalks, porches and decks. In summer, plants and have flowers.
  • How is your fence? Straight? Need stain or paint? Does any part of the house, trim, decks, gates, and front door need to be painted? Remember the first thing a buyer sees in your front door.
  • Is your house clean from the exterior? Power wash your house from outside and clean windows and screens. Buy things for your house that will enhance the house for showing like welcome mat or big potted plants for the patio or deck and will be yours to take with you.
Let’s go inside: The emotions you try to stimulate are triggered by sensory experience. Aim for the sense, especially smell & sight. Clean, fresh smelling homes will sell faster!
  • Badly faded walls or worn wood work such as moldings, baseboards, railings reduce appeal. Selective painting will help add a fresh look.
  • Dress up windows with curtains. Colorful curtains in match with countertops & floors add sophistication and warmth to your home.
  • Check all light bulbs and fill all light sockets with bulbs. Clean all light fixtures.
  • Is the kitchen neat and clean? Clean your counters and remove any unnecessary items?
  • Take things out of closets & cabinets that are not essential and pack them away.
  • Remove unnecessary articles, which have accumulated in basements/utility and storage areas.
  • Clear stairway and hallways to open them up.
  • Too much furniture? Put it in the basement/garage or better yet  ̶  store or sell it.
  • Brighten dull basement & storage areas by painting walls with day light / natural colors and using high wattage bulbs.
  • Washrooms that sparkle sell homes & the opposite is also true, dirty baths can turn off a buyer. New towels are an excellent investment.
  • Does the interior need to be painted? $100 worth of paint may balance $500 in a price cut. Make rooms sparkle. 
  • Keep all steps clear of hazards.
  • Wash dishes, put away clothes, makes beds, straighten up newspapers, etc.
  • Does the carpet need cleaning or replacing?
  • Are all appliances clean and in good working order?

Minor Repairs Adds Value! - Get all those minor flaws fixed since they detract from your home’s value. Don`t make major changes, except for new carpeting and new paint.
  • Dripping faucets lead buyers to question the plumbing system.
  • Loose doorknobs, sticking drawers or doors?
  • Fix all caulking, especially in the bathrooms.
  • General Idea if it’s broken... Fix it!

OK, It’s Show Time
  • Turn off the television. It is very difficult for an agent to keep the attention of a prospect focused on your home when and interesting special is on the tube competing for their attention.
  • Turn on the stereo. Tune in your best stereo station to a soft easy listening station, and turn the volume down low, most buyers will imagine themselves living in a peaceful, serene environment.
  • Let the sun shine in! Open all window shades, drapes and curtains.
  • Build a fire or turn on your gas fireplace.
  • Remember the Golden Rule.... treat your prospective buyer the way you would like to be treated. Most feel they are imposing on you when looking at your home, so it is best if you are not there when they arrive. If you happen to be there when they arrive, invite them to take their time looking and tell them you`ll be leaving to run errands.
  • Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way, preferably out of the house.
  • Check the temperature... toasty warm in the winter is best!
  •  Finally... Turn on every light in the house just before leaving the house. Illumination is
    like a welcome sign and makes the house looks bright and cheery.
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