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75
Tips
on
Preparing
your
Home
For
Sale
If
you
are
thinking
of
selling
your
home,
there
are
a
number
of
things
you
can
do
to
improve
the
“showability”
of
your
home.
But
first,
let’s
look
at
your
home
through
the
eyes
of
the
buyer.
Inside:
1)
Open
the
window
coverings
and
let
the
sun
shine
in.
Window
coverings
should
be
cleaned
so
that
they
are
not
dusty.
Have
your
windows
professionally
cleaned
-
you
won’t
believe
the
difference!
2)
Turn
on
all
lights
-
day
or
night.
Clean
all
light
bulbs,
light
fixtures
and
chandeliers.
Wherever
practical,
install
higher
wattage
light
bulbs
to
further
brighten
your
home.
3)
Create
the
illusion
of
spaciousness,
remove
all
clutter
from
each
room
to
visually
enlarge
them
(imagine
a
builder’s
model
home).
Improve
traffic
flow
and
create
a
feeling
of
spaciousness
by
removing
unnecessary
furniture,
knick-knacks,
hobby
items,
children's
items,
etc.
Organize
your
closets
and
cabinets,
remove
unnecessary
items
and
put
them
in
storage.
Rent
a
storage
area
if
needed,
or
pack
it
in
the
garage.
You're
going
to
move
anyway
--
start
now!
4)
Light
your
fireplace
during
the
winter.
5)
Keep
your
home
dusted
and
vacuumed.
6)
Have
a
family
"game
plan"
to
get
the
home
in
show
condition
quickly
-
everyone
should
have
an
assigned
task.
7)
Remove
all
smoke
odors,
pet
odors,
and
odors
resulting
from
hobbies.
When
possible,
air
out
your
home
before
the
showing.
Lightly
spray
room
freshener
so
that
it
has
a
chance
to
diffuse
before
the
buyer
arrives.
8)
Make
sure
that
beds
are
made.
9)
Bathrooms
should
be
kept
clean,
toilet
lids
down,
no
hair
in
the
sink.
Do
not
leave
dirty
towels
out;
wipe
down
the
shower
areas
after
each
use.
Repair
or
replace
broken
tiles
on
walls,
floors
or
in
showers/tubs.
Recaulk
if
the
caulking
is
chipped
and/or
stained.
Put
out
fresh
towels
and
decorative
soap
for
showings.
10)
Fix
dripping
faucets,
remove
rust
stains
from
basins.
11)
The
kitchen
should
be
kept
clean.
Remove
all
grease
from
range
hoods,
ovens,
stovetops,
walls,
etc.
Expand
your
counter
space
by
removing
small
appliances
-
everything
except
those
items
used
on
a
daily
basis
-
remember:
picture
a
builder’s
model
home.
12)
Shampoo
all
carpets
and
vacuum
as
necessary.
If
the
carpet
does
not
clean
up
well,
ask
your
agent
if
you
should
replace
it.
13)
First
impressions:
Does
the
doorbell
work?
Invest
in
a
new
doormat.
Make
sure
the
front
door,
screen
door,
etc.
open
easily
and
are
visually
appealing.
If
necessary,
paint
all
entrance
doors.
14)
Create
the
feeling
of
a
spacious
entry
area
by
using
decorating
accents,
mirrors,
rugs,
etc.
and
by
removing
all
unnecessary
clutter.
15)
Remove
any
excess
extension
cords
and
exposed
wires.
16)
Clean
and
shine
all
accessories
(door
knobs,
knockers,
lamps,
mail
boxes,
address
numbers,
etc.)
17)
Paint
inside
walls
with
a
neutral
colored
paint.
Usually,
all
walls
should
be
painted,
not
just
washed.
This
will
brighten
the
home
and
make
it
look
bigger
and
cleaner.
Depersonalize
teenager's
rooms
and
decorate
in
a
more
neutral
manner.
Remove
posters
and
adhesive
from
walls
and
doors
and
putty
any
holes
resulting
from
nails
or
other
mishaps.
An
investment
in
painting
your
home
can
make
a
big
difference.
Where
necessary,
repair
or
replace
doors,
closet
doors,
and/or
windows
and
screens
so
that
they
open
with
ease.
Outside:
Remove
dying
plants
or
keep
them
out
of
sight.
Keep
the
yard
mowed,
raked,
weeded,
fertilized
and
watered.
Trees
and
shrubs
should
be
pruned
and
trimmed.
Use
plants
and
flowers
on
porches
and
front
walk
way
-
create
curb
appeal!
Hoses
and
garden
equipment
should
be
kept
neatly
out
of
sight.
Remove
all
toys,
bicycles,
tools,
unattractive
patio
furniture,
trash,
etc.,
from
the
yard.
Outdoor
furniture
should
be
kept
clean.
Porches,
steps,
verandas,
balconies,
patios
and
other
extensions
of
the
house
should
be
kept
uncluttered,
swept
and
in
good
condition.
Keep
trashcans
deodorized,
covered
and
out
of
sight.
Highlight
your
pool
area,
water
garden,
etc.
with
lighting,
benches,
planters,
flowering
plants,
etc.
Create
an
outside
living/dining
area
with
furniture
and
plants.
Don’ts:
Don’t
volunteer
information
Don’t
answer
nosey
questions
Don’t
let
strangers
in
“off
the
street”
Do:
Enlist
the
service
of
a
professional
marketing
agent
such
as
Amy
Barnes,
to
market
your
home
in
trade
magazines,
newspapers,
call
capture
24
hour
hotline,
Internet
sites,
Virtual
Tour,
etc.
Make
your
home
look
like
a
model
even
if
isn’t.
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