Preparing Your Home For Sale

Did you know well-placed furniture can open up a room and make rooms seem larger than they are? Or that opening drapes and blinds and turning on all lights make a room seem bright and cheery? Did you know the scent of your home can leave a lasting effect on a potential buyer?  Baking bread, cookies or pie leaves an inviting fragrance. 

Here are some inexpensive ways to maximize your home's appeal:

Exterior

• Keep the grass freshly cut

• Remove all yard clutter

• Apply fresh paint to wooden fences

• Paint the front door

• Weed and apply fresh mulch to garden beds

• Clean windows inside and out

• Wash or paint homes exterior

• Tighten and clean all door handles

• Ensure gutters and downspouts are firmly attached

Interior

• Remove excessive wall hangings, furniture and knick knacks (consider a temporary self-storage unit)

• Clean or paint walls and ceilings

• Shampoo carpets

• Clean and organize cabinets and closets

• Repair all plumbing leaks, including faucets and drain traps

• Clean all light fixtures

For showings

• Counter tops cleared

• Floors and surfaces clean

• Turn on all the lights

• Open drapes in the daytime

• Keep pets secured outdoors

• Play quiet background music

• Light the fireplace if seasonally appropriate

• Infuse home with a comforting scent like apple spice or vanilla

• Vacate the property while it is being shown