1. INTERIOR J Magazines/ J Awards/Trophies ONGOING CLEANING
Preparing Your Home To Sell J Refrigerator Newspapers J Collections
Continue with daily/weekly yardwork (i.e. mowing,
Magnets J Personal J Games
trimming) and general cleaning (i.e. vacuuming, dusting,
The condition of your home can either detract from or disinfecting, picking up).
enhance its appeal. This checklist is designed to provide you J Valuables Knick-Knacks J Curios
with an easy and systematic approach to improving your J Posters J Paperwork J Clutter (picked
J Family Photos EXTERIOR INTERIOR
home’s sales appeal. Six steps are outlined in the checklist. J Lawn J Litter Boxes up, inside & out)
Please note: Gremove pet J Trash Cans J Kitchen Counters
I The checklist is most effective when you review the steps
Cleaning & Maintenance droppings J Ashtrays & Appliances
in order. A house that is dirty and disorganized will stop a buyer cold. J Shrubs J Laundry J Dishes
I Some items (i.e. lawn, kitchen, bath, etc.) appear in multi- Before putting your home on the market, perform a thorough J Driveway J Carpets/Throw J Bathrooms
ple categories. However, you will be checking for different cleaning and maintenance check. Remember…your home J Sidewalks Rugs
things in each category. must be ready to show at ALL times, so continue with ongo- J Front Entrance J Wood & Tile
ing daily and weekly cleaning. J Patio/Deck Floors
I The first three steps involve removing detractions. These
are must-do’s because they will catch the buyer’s attention MAINTENANCE J Remove Snow J Windows
and leave a negative impression if not corrected. Make certain each of the following are operable and in (if applicable) J Furniture
I The last three steps involve making enhancements. These
good condition (i.e. secure, not broken or damaged, etc.). J Rake Leaves J Woodwork
are suggestions that may help your home shine and stand J Door Hinges J Fireplace (if applicable) J Mirrors & Glass
out from others on the market. J Close Garage J Make beds
EXTERIOR
J Trees & Shrubs J Door Handles J Tub and Shower
Be sure to consult with your real estate professional and J Windowpanes & Locks Caulking Doors
get his or her suggestions for your personal selling situation. J Windows INTERIOR J Drains
Good Luck — you’re well on your way to a successful sale! (move freely) J Walls (spackle J Faucets 5-Sense Appeal
J Chimney & paint) J Toilets
J Outdoor Lights J Air Conditioner
Buyers will discover your home through the five senses…
J Handrails
Major Repairs sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. By enhancing your home
J Garage Door J Light Switches & Furnace Filters to appeal to each sense, you maximize the likelihood that
The items in this section may result in substantial expense; Opener & Plugs buyers will desire your home.
but if you have obvious problems, it’s important to fix them J Doorbell J Light Fixtures Consider doing the following steps to increase your
or they may prevent your home from selling. home’s sales appeal…the rewards could be substantial.
Following are the items buyers will perceive as needing MAJOR CLEANING
major repairs. Consider replacing, repairing or repainting Perform a “cleaning overhaul” of your home. The SIGHT
if they are damaged, defective or worn out. items on this list should be cleaned from top to bottom J Manicure the front lawn J Turn all lights on for
J Windows J Water Heater
and neatly organized or manicured. You may even want J Trim low tree limbs showings
J Prune shrubs J Open or remove curtains
EXTERIOR to consider professional services.
J Sidewalks J Screens J Furnace J Ceilings J Kitchen (must
J Steps J Air Conditioner
EXTERIOR J Remove weeds J Remove unnecessary pieces
INTERIOR J Lawn J Light Fixtures be extra clean) J Powerwash the exterior of furniture
J Driveway J Flooring J Basement J Shrubs & Trees J Ceiling Fans cupboards
J Foundation (moisture) J Paint or stain the front door J Rearrange furniture to create
J Ceilings & Walls
G
J Garage J Electric Cords drawers J Polish house numbers, space
J Siding J Paint & J Electrical
G
(grease spots) (remove or hide) refrigerator front door handles & mailbox J Light a fire in the fireplace
J Roof Wallpaper J Septic Tank
G
J Front Entrance J Fireplace freezer (defrost) J Use higher wattage light J Repaint walls that reflect
J Gutters/ J Trim
G
(incl. chimney) oven bulbs personal taste
Downspouts J Countertops
INTERIOR G
J Carpeting J Closets stove and
J Fencing J Appliances
G
(steam clean) J Sinks (leak vent fan
J Wood Floors stains) J Bathroom (must
SOUND
J Close windows that back up J Play soft music (jazz
Depersonalizing J Tile Floors (wax) J Plants (remove be extra clean) to busy roads or easy listening)
J Drapes if unhealthy) regrout tile J Turn off all televisions J Remove yourselves, pets &
Depersonalizing involves removing those items that reflect
G
(steam clean) J Boxes (store J Turn off all appliances children during showings
your family’s personal tastes. It is an inexpensive process that J Window Sills in neat piles)
will have a great impact on your home’s appearance. (i.e. dishwashers, laundry)
J Windows, J Furnace J Fix all squeaks (i.e. stairs,
Glass & Mirrors J Air Conditioner
Remove and store the following…either out-of-sight or
floors, hinges)
J Baseboards J Attic
neatly packed up and out of the way.
J Recreational J Gardening Tools
EXTERIOR
J Walls J Basement
J Vehicles Vehicles J Toys & Sports
(put in garage) J Trailers Equipment
J Lawn Equipment

2. J Replace economy light fix-
Before making any major improvements, please check
5-Sense Appeal INTERIOR
J Display fresh or dried flower tures with attractive fixtures
(cont’d from page 4) with your real estate professional; he or she has the
experience to make suggestions for your home.
arrangement in living room J Install combination ceiling J Garage Door Opener J Landscaping
fan/light fixtures where appro-
TASTE
J Make home appear appetiz- J Clean oven & entry way J Additional Telephone J Update/Remodel Kitchen
ing. Buyers should be able to J Clean refrigerator (put fresh J Place fresh flowers on din- priate Outlets replace outdated appliances
visualize themselves eating baking soda on shelf) ing and coffee tables J Install a dimmer switch in
G
J Skylights add disposal
there. J Display a basket of fruit J Display large green plants the dining room
G
J Security System add a double oven
J Sanitize kitchen sink and throughout the home J Replace switch or plug
G
J Yard Lights install new flooring
counters (be careful not to overdo it) plates with brass or wood
G
J Deck or Patio add new countertops
J Set dining table with plates, J Cover switch or plug plates
G
J Yard Shed J Update Bathrooms
TOUCH flatware, glasses & cloth with matching wallpaper J Garage add whirlpool tub
J Add soft/padded rugs to J Set room temperature napkins w/rings J Add a set of matching tow-
G
hard floors J Fireplace new ceramic tile
around 68˚-72˚ J Apply polyurethane to cabi- els, flowers & scented soaps
G
J Oil drawers, cabinets and J Run a dehumidifier in the J Central Air Conditioning new toilet or vanity
nets, woodwork and exposed in bathrooms
G
door mechanisms J Sprinkler System add an additional or
basement brick J Replace shower curtains
G
J Bay or Garden Windows guest bath
J Paint ceilings with a pure J Install flourescent lighting J Hot Tub or Swimming Pool
SMELL white semi-gloss in basement.
Eliminate negative smells: Add pleasant scents:
J Add trim moldings to J Replace ordinary slab doors
J Pet odors (may require J Fresh flowers with paneled doors
enhance rooms with standard
professional cleaning) J Light potpourri (cinnamon
Inclusions & Exclusions
eight-foot ceilings
J Smoke (may require or vanilla) This section deals with those items that you do not intend to
professional cleaning) J Candles (they absorb odors) sell, but are often mistaken as fixtures by buyers. Whenever
J Food odors (i.e. garlic, J Put a lemon down the dis- practical, remove items not intended for sale prior to show-
SEASONAL TIPS
cooking oil, fish) posal ings.
Summer
J Set air conditioning to cooler temperature
J Air fresheners (they make it J Sprinkle vanilla extract on J Keep lawn watered
Be sure to talk with your real estate professional about
seem as if you are hiding oven walls, heat to 350˚
the items on this list and any others that might be
something) J Cinnamon or pinch of
Fall applicable to your own selling situation.
J Hang a harvest wreath on door
J Trash cans & compactors cloves in boiling water J Appliances J Gazebos
J Display pumpkins and autumn flower arrangements
(add baking soda) J Lilac and rose scented soaps J Chandeliers/Light Fixtures J Basketball Hoops
in the baths
Winter J Shelving J Dog Runs/Kennels
J Setup a place for boots and shoes
J Place a rug and/or plastic runner near front door J Bookcases J Fuel Oil
J Keep a crackling fire burning in the fireplace J Mirrors J Carpeting
Detailing J Draperies J Grills
J Shovel sidewalks then sand any ice
Detailing is the process of adding extra touches and accents J Build a snowman in the front yard J Faucets J Birdhouses
that are subtle but have a huge impact on buyers’ emotions. J Firewood J Landscaping/Yard Ornaments
These extra touches will make it easier for buyers to see
Spring
J Plant outdoor flowers (especially in front)
themselves living in the home. Consider adding the follow- J Hang a bright-colored wreath on the front door Compliments of:
ing details:
EXTERIOR
J Sealcoat driveway J Add potted or hanging
Major Improvements
J Replace old storm doors flowers to the front entrance In most cases major improvements rarely result in a dollar-for-
with full view doors J Hang a wreath on the front dollar return, but they might mean the difference between sell-
J Replace old house numbers door ing or not selling. Be careful not to overimprove by adding
with brass numbers J Consider adding shutters amenities that are uncommon in your neighborhood or price
J Replace old mailbox & painted with contrasting range.
outside light with brass colors NOTE: This list may include items that seem extreme for
your geographic region, neighborhood or price range. The list
J Add flowers in window J Clean downspouts/gutters is designed to provide you with ideas and certainly not all of
boxes them will apply.
© Copyright 1996 David Knox Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.