How to Get Your Home Ready for Sale

The competition in the real estate market right now is fierce. When your home is on the market, it is essential to present it in the best possible light to a prospective buyer. Your goal should be to prevent these prospective buyers from saying anything negative about your home when they walk through. As a former real estate agent, I can tell you for sure that when buyers are looking at a home, they point out and verbalize any negative things they see. This includes minor things as well as the major things. You want to get the highest price possible for your home. Buyers are looking for a home that suits their needs that will involve the least amount of work for the lowest price possible. They will notice small things such as loose door handles and chips in the paint. These things are small fixes that you, as the seller, should be aware of and take care of before your house goes on the market. These small things can make a major impact on the amount of the offer that comes in and how soon you get one. I've put together a list of things you should be aware of if you are going to put your house on the market, or already have. Most of them will cost you nothing. Some will cost mere amounts. You may want to print this out.

The Outside

I have had plenty of clients that have decided not to even walk into a house based on what they saw when we drove up. Sadly, the sellers could have prevented this by making a few small changes. This is your first impression and you should make the prospective buyers excited about entering your home.

1. Paint over anything that is chipped including shutters and even the mailbox post.

2. Keep the lawn freshly mowed. Seed the areas that need it. Rake often.

3. Remove weeds.

4. Cut down any shrubs that obscure a window view.

5. Remove any piles of anything you have outside including bricks and wood.

6. Wash any lawn furniture you have, basketball hoops, or children's playgrounds.

7. Park any project cars elsewhere.

8. If you have a shed, paint over that if it needs it. Make sure the latch isn't rusted. Make sure the lights work if you have electricity in it.

9. Pick up animal droppings if you have a pet.

10. Clean your grill area.

11. If you have a pool, make sure it looks nice. Honestly, some buyers are looking for homes without pools as they may not want to take care of them. So, If you have one you need to ensure it looks relaxing and crisp. Don't leave out floats, chemicals or other pool supplies. Make sure the water is clear. If your house is being shown at night, turn on the outside lighting so they can picture themselves relaxing around the pool at night.

12. Paint the driveway if it needs it. Get rid of weeds that are coming out of the cracks. Repairing them is even better. It's actually very inexpensive to do this.

13. Keep your garden looking fresh. If you don't have any flowers or scenery, consider planting something small and easy to take care of to give that 'curb appeal'.

14. Paint the fence. Fix any areas that may be sagging.

The Entrance

While the agent is unlocking your home, the prospective buyers will be standing back looking around. This area has to be perfect.

1. The welcome mat needs to look new and inviting. Avoid welcome mats that have bright colors.

2. Put one decoration by the door. Of course, make sure it is clean and attractive.

3. Make sure the door can be easily opened. The handle shouldn't be too loose or tight. Polish the handle and knocker (if you have one). This is actually a major thing. Countless times I have gone to show a house and have had trouble opening the door. Sometimes the client has to step in and help. After, the client says, "Well. That needs to be replaced". Avoid this! It's an easy fix!

4. Windows by the door should be free of fingerprints and dust.

5. Clean around the lights. Get rid of cobwebs and dust. Turn on the light if your house is being shown at night.

Inside

1. Pay special attention to the carpets. This is definitely an area that the buyers will look at. Pull up any stains. If the prospective buyer sees a carpet that isn't top-notch, they will either start mentally knocking down your price or choose another house all together. Neutral colors are best. If your carpet is old and worn, you want to seriously consider replacing it as it will cost you less in the long run.

2. Paint is inexpensive! The colors on your wall should be neutral and the paint should be fresh and clear of scuffs or marks. Light, neutral colors will also make your rooms appear larger. It amazes me how many people do not paint over their walls when their house goes on the market. I like purple. But, a lot of people hate it. I'll paint my walls purple when I move in and eggshell when I move out.

3. Clean the light fixtures.

4. Remove unnecessary furniture. It will make your house look bigger! Remember, less is more. You want the buyer to look at your living room and picture their furniture in there. Trust me, when people are looking at a home they are talking to each other and planning out where they will put their furniture and trying to figure out if it will fit.

5. Make closets look large. Go through them. You're moving out anyway, so you'll need to do it eventually. Only put things in closets you need. If your closets are overstuffed, the buyers will think they're not big enough for their stuff either. Line and stack everything up neatly.

6. Another huge, preventable thing is pet odors! You should highly consider keeping your pet somewhere else, if possible. Do not let your house smell like pets. The problem with this is, people who do not have pets will smell them where you may not. Litter boxes are a major turnoff for people who don't like cats. The smell can sometimes be overbearing.

7. Do not smoke in the house! There are some buyers who won't even consider a house that has been smoked in and specifically request not to be shown these houses. If you smoke, start doing it outside. Even if you are smoking outside, get rid of the evidence! No ashtrays or cigarette butts should be visible anywhere. It's essential.

8. Fill in any holes in the walls including the small ones from pictures you have hung.

9. If you have a fireplace, it should look as if you have never used it.

10. Make sure all your shades are up when your house is being shown to let the light in. It makes rooms look bigger and brighter.

11. Make sure all the wallpaper (if you have it) is fresh. The same principles apply with wallpaper as carpet. The paper should be neutral. It should also not be peeling back. Lines should be matched up.

12. All surfaces need to be clear. Nightstands should display only a lamp and an alarm clock. Desks need to be free from clutter. The coffee table should only have one item on it.

13. Pick one appliance for your kitchen counters. A huge thing buyers take into consideration is if they will have enough counter space. So, if you have out a coffee maker, blender, toaster, etc. pick one item that you use the most and store the other ones.

14. Store any magazine, CD, or DVD towers.

15. Shine, wax, rebuff floors.

16. There should be no dishes in the sink when your house is being shown.

17. The kitchen and bathrooms need to be spotless.

18. The laundry area needs to be free of clutter and neat.

19. The counter in your bathroom should have only a few items.

20. Fix leaky faucets.

21. Any sliding doors, screen doors should slide easily. Detail the sliders.

22. Any fixtures in the bathroom should be secured.

23. Caulk if you need it.

24. There should be no soap scum in the bathroom whatsoever.

25. People are going to open your medicine cabinets. Those need to be neat as well. It's also a good idea to lock up any prescription medicines that you have as well.

26. Make your bed daily!

27. Basements and Garages need to look neat and appear roomy. Now is a great time to organize them. Same goes for attic space. Don't keep cars in the garage. It will make it appear much, much smaller than it is.

Finally, walk through the house taking note of every inch that may raise issue in the buyer's head. It's also a good idea to have someone else walk through, or your agent, who can give point stuff out. Sometimes, it's hard for an owner to be unbiased about the way their home looks. It's easy to overlook things when you are there day in and day out. I hope this list helps you. Good luck in selling your home!