First impressions are probably one of the more important factors in selling your home (besides price). So when you put your home on the market, it will pay to make sure your home looks its best.

You can accomplish this by viewing your home as if you were the “prospective buyer”. Imagine you are seeing the home for the first time, and try to notice its highlights and drawbacks.

Then, start sprucing up in order to “emphasize and add” to its highlights. This is often easier said than done, because some things may be easily overlooked unless you decide to make your improvements systematically.

We’ve prepared a checklist to help you do just that. As you will see, it includes tips which can make virtually any property look its best. This will assist you in selling your home at the best price - fast.

Check off the items that apply to your home. If an item calls for an expense (i.e. painting, etc.), weigh the cost to the results of your investment.

OUTSIDE

____ Trim Shrubs
____ Mow lawn
____ Weed flower beds
____ Repair walk, driveway
____ Repair steps, porch
____ Clean porch light, post lamp
____ Clean siding
____ Paint trim, front of house, front door, mailbox
____ Paint sides, back of house
____ Repair roof, gutters, down spouts
____ Clean/repair screens
____ Clean/paint/repair garage -dispose of what you don’t intend to keep

INSIDE - GENERAL

____ Paint where necessary
____ Clean/fix windows, make sure doors/windows are operating freely - lubricate with wax or WD-40

____ Clean/polish floors
____ Replace burned out light bulbs, brighten other lighting with more powerful bulbs
____ Fix squeaking floors/doors
____ Fix light switches/electrical outlets
____ Repair/repaint cracked walls/ceilings
____ Fix faucet drips, fix leaky pipes under sink areas
____ Clear clogged drains
____ Clean fireplace, lay logs for fire or seasonal arrangement
____ Straighten all closets
____ Use room deodorants to remove any odors
____ Vacuum/shampoo rugs
____ Clean/polish brass, metal, etc. fixtures
____ Clean up and dispose of items you are not going to move with you

KITCHEN

____ Paint/clean cabinets
____ Use bright window treatments
____ Clean ventilating hood/fan
____ Clear off counter tops to make kitchen look spacious and neat
____ Make sure drawers slide smoothly and are organized
____ Clean exterior of range, oven, refrigerator and other major appliances

BATHROOMS

____ Put out fresh towels
____ Clean fixtures, tub, toilet
____ Replace toilet seat
____ Clean shower curtain
____ Clean tile/shower walls

BEDROOMS

____ Make beds
____ Use most attractive bedspread/curtains

LIVINGROOM/DEN

____ Plump up cushions
____ Stack newspapers/magazines
____ Clean television screen

DININGROOM

____ Polish table, buffet
____ Clean glass in china cabinet

LAUNDRY AREA

____ Remove hanging clothes
____ Put away laundry soaps, etc.

THEN LET YOUR HOME SELL ITSELF. When you show your home, answer questions but do divulge information not asked of you.