As you prepare the inside of your home for sale,
the key to successful preparation is to 1) remove as much clutter as
possible, 2) maximize the space you offer in the home and 3) be
conscious of how the home smells.
Clutter is the one factor that can make a
big home look small, dank and crowded. Remove, sell or store as
much furniture as possible. Store books, clothes, hobby crafts,
etc. away, have a garage sale or donate them to charity. Clear off
all surface spaces and keep them clear of knick-knacks and trinkets.
If you have a special figurine collection, for example, put it away.
Potential buyers are not there to see how much junk you have collected
over the years; rather, they are there to see the home you are selling.
Watch out for how your home smells. If you
have pets or smoke indoors, chances are your home will have a
distasteful odor to a buyer. Wipe down the walls and furniture
with a disinfectant such as Lysol. Use a carpet deodorizer, such
as Carpet Fresh, before you vacuum to help pull out any unsavory smells.
Better yet, rent a carpet cleaner to give your carpets and rugs a
thorough cleaning.
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Front Hall/Hallways |
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Door cleaned, dusted |
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Patch and paint any door knob or nail holes |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door knob screws |
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Door knobs polished |
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Door screen mended or replaced |
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Door trim and baseboards dusted |
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Windows cleaned |
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Window blinds, window sills dusted |
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Light(s) cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Floor cleaned, carpets vacuumed with carpet
deoderizer |
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Closets cleaned, excessive items put in storage |
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Add a plant and/or fresh flowers |
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Living Room/Family Room |
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Room: clutter free; toys, hobby crafts, etc. put
away |
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Excessive furniture removed, remaining
furniture maximized for open space |
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Furniture dusted and cleared of
excessive items |
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Ceiling fans and A/C vents dusted |
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Light(s) cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Carpets vacuumed with deodorizer |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Clean out fireplace |
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Nail holes spackled and painted |
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Baseboards, doors and door trim
dusted |
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Windows cleaned and not stuck closed |
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Window blinds and window sills
dusted |
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De-clutter bookcases and shelves |
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Newspapers, magazines stored away,
recycled |
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Kitchen/Pantry/Dining Room |
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Appliances removed from countertops and stored
away |
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Clean oven, stove (replacing the drip pans?) |
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Scrub sink with cleanser, bleach any stains |
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Re-caulk around sink and splash
board |
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Clean faucets of water stains and corrosion
(replace with new one?) |
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Fix faucet washers |
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Make sure that sink drains well,
disposal works properly |
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Make sure all cabinet doors and drawers work
properly, fix/replace cabinet handles |
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Light(s) cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Baseboards, doors and door trim
dusted |
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Windows cleaned and not stuck closed |
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Window blinds and window sills
dusted |
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Corners cleared of cobwebs |
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Mop floors |
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Add a plant or vase of flowers to countertop |
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Make sure clocks on microwave,
stove are set correctly |
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Clean pantry shelves of any crumbs
or food |
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Organize cans and food boxes in
pantry |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door knob screws |
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Clean off dining room table |
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Remove any excessive furniture
from dining room |
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Carpets vacuumed with deodorizer |
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Bedrooms |
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Room clutter free; toys, books, etc. put away |
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Dressers and desks cleared off |
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Valuable items stored elsewhere |
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Excessive furniture removed, remaining
furniture maximized for open space |
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Closets cleaned and organized |
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Ceiling fans and window blinds dusted |
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Light cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Carpets vacuumed with deodorizer |
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Excessive posters, pictures removed from walls |
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Nail holes spackled and painted |
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Baseboards, doors and door trim
dusted |
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Windows cleaned and not stuck closed |
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Window sills dusted |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door
knobs |
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Bathrooms |
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Store away tooth brushes, hair brushes, etc. |
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Scrub sink, tub and toilet with cleanser,
bleach any stains |
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Re-caulk around sink, splash
board, toilet base and tub/shower (no mildew) |
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Clean faucets and shower head of water stains
and corrosion (replace with new one?) |
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Fix faucet and shower washers to stop leaks |
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Make sure that sink drains well,
disposal works properly |
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Make sure that the toilet doesn't
drip, leak or constantly run |
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Clean mirror, medicine cabinet |
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Light cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Buy a new shower curtain |
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Buy new floor mats, toilet cover |
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Tighten or replace toilet seat |
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Straighten up the linen closet |
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Buy new display hand and bath towels |
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Baseboards, doors and door trim
dusted |
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Windows cleaned and not stuck closed |
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Window sills dusted |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door
knobs |
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Fix/replace cabinet door and drawer handles |
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Tighten towel racks |
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Add a plant or vase of flowers |
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Garage/Carport |
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Scrub concrete clean of any oil or chemical
stains |
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Tidy up tools, hang on wall mounted hooks |
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Hang bikes from ceiling |
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Replace light bulbs in garage door opener and
other fixtures |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Oil garage door hinges |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door
knobs |
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Windows cleaned |
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Window sills dusted |
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Attics/Basements |
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Floors swept clean, cobwebs cleared away |
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Windows cleaned |
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Window sills dusted |
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Items stored neatly away to maximize space |
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Stair cleared of any obstructions |
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Loose stair tightened |
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Railings tightened and secured to wall |
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Light cleaned, bulbs replaced |
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Light switches, walls cleaned of fingerprints,
dirt |
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Lights cleaned |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door
knobs |
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Sweep patio and deck |
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Remove any clutter from patio or deck |
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Other Areas |
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Check hot water heater for any excessive water,
fix any leaks |
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Laundry area cleaned and lint free |
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Laundry sinks cleaned and re-caulked |
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Washer and dryer hoses checked for leaks,
mildew and water deposits |
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Washer dryer cleaned inside and out (remove any
excessive laundry) |
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Oil door hinges, tighten door
knobs |
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Check all electrical outlets and light switches
for proper operation. Replace if needed. |
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Change the air filters in the heating and AC
units |
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Clean all air intake and air vents throughout
the house |
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Keep your walkways open. One way to test out
how open your walkways are is to take two full size suitcases and walk
throughout the house. If you hit anything along the way, your
pathway is too narrow. Also, make sure that a buyer can walk from
the doorway to a window without being obstructed by excessive furniture.
