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Step 1
Remove clutter and clear off counters
- Throw out stacks of newspapers and magazines and stow away most of your small decorative items.
- Put excess furniture in storage, and remove out-of-season clothing items that are cramping closet space.
- Don’t forget to clean out the garage, too.
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Step 2
Wash your windows and screens
- This will help get more light into the interior of the home.
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Step 3
Keep everything extra clean.
- A clean house will make a strong first impression and send a message to buyers that the home has been well-cared for.
- Wash fingerprints from light switch plates, mop and wax floors, and clean the stove and refrigerator.
- Polish your doorknobs and address numbers.
- It’s worth hiring a cleaning service if you can afford it.
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Step 4
Get rid of smells
- Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells.
- Open the windows to air out the house.
- Potpourri or scented candles will help.
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Step 5
Brighten your rooms
- Put higher wattage bulbs in light fixtures to brighten up rooms and basements.
- Replace any burned-out bulbs in closets.
- Clean the walls, or better yet, brush on a fresh coat of neutral color paint.
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Step 6
Don’t disregard minor repairs
- Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well-maintained.
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Step 7
Tidy your yard
- Cut the grass, rake the leaves, add new mulch, trim the bushes, edge the walkways, and clean the gutters.
- For added curb appeal, place a pot of bright flowers near the entryway.
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Step 8
Patch holes
- Repair any holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
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Step 9
Add a touch of color in the living room
- A colored afghan or throw on the couch will jazz up a dull room.
- Buy new accent pillows for the sofa.
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Step 10
Make centerpieces for your tables
- Use brightly colored fruit or flowers.
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Step 11
Set the scene
- Set the table with fancy dishes and candles, and create other vignettes throughout the home to help buyers picture living there.
- For example, in the basement you might display a chess game in progress.
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Step 12
Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light
- Show off the view if you have one.
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Step 13
Accentuate the fireplace
- Lay fresh logs in the fireplace or put a basket of flowers there if it’s not in use.
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Step 14
Make the bathrooms feel luxurious
- Put away those old towels and toothbrushes.
- When buyers enter your bathroom, they should feel pampered.
- Add a new shower curtain, new towels, and fancy guest soaps.
- Make sure your personal toiletry items are out of sight.
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Step 15
Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside
- If that’s not possible, crate them or confine them to one room (ideally in the basement), and let the real estate practitioner know where they’ll be to eliminate surprises.
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Step 16
Lock up valuables, jewelry, and money
- While a real estate salesperson will be on site during the showing or open house, it’s impossible to watch everyone all the time.
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Step 17
Leave the home
- It’s usually best if the sellers are not at home.
- It’s awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their opinions of your home with you there.