Preparing Your Home For Sale
DA N I E L G A L E S OT H E B Y ’ S I N T E R N AT I O N A L R E A LT Y
Table of Contents 4
| UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS
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| SPRUCE UP THE LANDSCAPE
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| MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL DECLUTTER
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| HINTS ON HOUSEKEEPING
10 | HELPFUL TIPS FOR SHOWINGS 11 | SOME IMPORTANT REMINDERS
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Nothing pays dividends to sellers quite like elbow grease. Combining good housekeeping and home repair with pleasant aromas and staging can bring top dollar and a quick sale. Conversely darkness, clutter, noticeable deferred maintenance and bad odors can deter potential buyers and prolong a successful sale. This checklist provides keys to a successful sale. Time or funds may be limited, so it may not be practical to cover all the points, but it is beneficial to do the best job possible. So invest the time to make your home sparkle. Use this checklist as a guide to a faster, more profitable sale.
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Understanding the Basics FENCE | Missing stakes or slats are eyesores, yet are usually inexpensive and easy to fix. Repair, paint or stain the fence as necessary.
ROOF | Remove visible debris. Make sure the gutters are clean. Remove any tree branches bearing on the roof. Powerwash if possible. AIR CONDITIONERS & COOLERS | Repaint or replace any rusted exposed metal. Correct improper draining. PATIO | A nice spread of outdoor furniture looks very appealing. Repair, clean or repaint outdoor furniture and cushions as needed. Add flowering plants. If there is a table, stage it by adding outdoor plates, cups and an ice bucket so prospective buyers can visualize themselves enjoying the space. SWIMMING POOL | Adjust the pool’s chemicals to ensure sparkling clear water. Store chemicals and tools neatly. Keep filtration equipment dust and cobweb free. WINDOWS | Clean windows are an absolute necessity if a house is to look its best, yet this is very often overlooked. Replace any cracked or broken panes. Repair or replace torn or bent screens. As a last resort, remove screens entirely. No screens are better than unsightly ones. Note the foliage near windows. A window framed in ivy can give a warm, homey feeling, but cut it back if the foliage is restricting the light coming into the room. Drapery rods should be affixed firmly to walls and work smoothly. Draperies should be clean and hang properly. DOORS | Repair or replace doors with holes in them. An option for extreme damage is to cover a hole with a mirror or piece of paneling. Check to see that all doors open and close freely, including closet, patio or sliding glass doors. Oil any squeaky doors. Thoroughly clean the doors. Tighten the hardware and knobs on doors, as well as kitchen and bath cabinets. FLOORS | Repair or replace missing or damaged pieces of tile, and polish if needed. Repair any loose stair tread plates or carpeting on stairways. Steam cleaning is the best answer for soiled carpet. Shampooing seldom does the job well enough. If pet odors are present, be sure to clean the carpet some time before the home is placed on the market to be sure that the odors have been eliminated. Loose carpet should be anchored properly. 4
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Spruce Up the Landscape FRONT ENTRY | This is where buyers get their first opportunity to make a close inspection. They will be looking for flaws, so eliminate them. All woodwork should be freshly and neatly painted, including the door, if necessary. Replace a poorly-functioning doorbell. Polish the door brass. Repaint or replace an unsightly mailbox. Put out a new or clean door mat. Thoroughly weed and prune all landscaping. Add flowering plants. PAINT | Few things enhance the saleability of a house more than exterior paint. Before painting, scrape or powerwash any blistered or peeling paint, repair gutters and downspouts, and replace any dry rotted wood. Trim work, gutters and wrought iron should receive primary attention. If you cannot afford to paint the entire house, at least power wash it to improve the appearance. YARD | Mow and trim the lawn. Weed flower beds and remove or replace dead plants or trees. Water regularly during the growing season. DRIVEWAY, GARAGE & CARPORT | Clean up grease stains or oil spots. Make sure that the garage door opens freely and that the automatic door opener is in good working order. If possible, don’t park cars in front of the house or in the driveway. Recreational vehicles or boats should be in the garage, carport or behind a fence in the back.
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Check Mechanical & Electrical Features LIGHTS | Every light socket in and around the house should have a good light bulb of adequate wattage. Don’t overlook bulbs in the garage, utility room, halls, closets, over the kitchen sink and in the oven and exhaust hood. Repair or replace any broken switch plates. If you are not fully competent to handle these repairs, please call a professional. Clean switch plates and switches.
PLUMBING | Badly chipped or irreversibly stained sinks, toilets and tubs should be re-enameled, patched or replaced. Leaky or excessively noisy toilets should be fixed as well as any dripping faucets. SPRINKLER SYSTEM | The sprinkler system should be in good working order with no defective heads.
APPLIANCES | Those that will be sold with the home should be in proper working condition and clean inside and out. If specific equipment does not work and you do not intend to repair it, point this out to your agent.
Arrange for a Spacious Look DECLUTTER | One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the showability of your home is to optimize and open up as much space as possible. Openness stimulates positive feelings in buyers. Overstuffed rooms or closets give the impression of being smaller than they really are. Reduce the clutter and remove excess or large items. Store your excess belongings elsewhere while the house is on the market.
CLOSETS AND STORAGE AREAS | One of the most requested requirements of buyers is closet and storage space. Open up your storage areas by getting rid of items you aren’t using. Organize what is left. DEFINE AND STAGE | Each area should be furnished so its function is clear. For instance, the dining room should have a dining table and chairs in it. Stage tables with placemats, dinnerware and centerpieces.
DEPERSONALIZE | Remove personal items such as chotchkies and personal photos so that the buyer can visualize themselves in your home. Certain personal items may turn off buyers as well. 7
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Hints on Housekeeping BATHROOMS | Few places in the home get dirty faster than the bathroom, yet few things will “unsell” a house as fast as dirty baths. Vanity, sink, faucet hardware and mirrors are the focal points, but other potential problems might be soap residue in a shower, a moldy shower curtain, accumulated dirt in the track of a sliding shower door, soiled or missing grout, stained toilet bowls and wet, dirty or battered bath mats. KITCHEN | Like baths, kitchens get dirty quickly. Most buyers will inspect this area carefully, so extra time spent here is important. Clean the stove inside and out. Replace badly stained or corroded reflector plates under the heating elements in electric range tops. Don’t neglect the kitchen exhaust hood – buyers frequently check this area as a clue to general housekeeping. Remove clutter and any small appliances that are taking up counter space like microwaves and coffee makers. WINDOWS | Clean windows are an absolute necessity if a house is to look its best, yet this is very often overlooked.
TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS | Residents of a home frequently aren’t aware of this potential source of bad odors. Replace all used towels with fresh ones. SOILED CLOTHES | When the house is being shown, keep laundry out of living areas. GARBAGE | Take all of the trash and garbage out of the house, particularly any organic or food related discards from the kitchen. Run part of a lemon through the disposal unit to add a fresh smell. SEWER GAS IN THE HOUSE | You must do whatever is necessary to correct this problem before the house is placed on the market. CATS AND DOGS | As a first step, move the cat litter box out of the house. Also, be sure to clean up after the dog or cat before any showings. Remove all pet bedding, crates and toys. If possible, remove the pet during the showing. An air purifier will help reduce any pet odors.
WATER HEATER AND SOFTENER | Perhaps because it is so unusual, a sparkling clean water heater or water softener usually really impresses agents and buyers.
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Helpful Tips for Showing LIGHT | Open all draperies and turn on all lights for a bright and cheerful look. LIGHT SWITCHES | If some switches operate wall outlets, plug in a lamp to demonstrate that the switch works. AROMAS | Set out fresh flowers or potpourri for their appearance and fragrance. Bake cookies or simmer a pot of water with cloves and cinnamon on the stove. Do not cook seafood or strong-smelling vegetables. CLOSETS | Keep doors closed except for walk-in closets. Have walk-in closet doors slightly ajar and turn on the lights to draw attention to this special feature. POSTERS AND SIGNS | We live in a tolerant age, but don’t take a chance on offending a potential buyer. Remove any signs or posters that might be offensive. ASHTRAYS | All ashtrays need to be removed prior to any showing. UTILITY BILLS | Have copies of the past 12 months of bills available or a written summary of the amounts paid monthly for that period. PETS | Some people dislike dogs. Cats can be just as objectionable to the person who doesn’t like them, and invariably, a cat will single out the cat-hater. So don’t have your pets at the showing.
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MUSIC | Soft background music will help create a relaxed mood that prompts buyers to linger and enjoy. But no music is better than playing loud music. Also, never have a TV on when the house is being shown. YOUR PRESENCE | Most buyers will not closely inspect the home when the owners are present. If you must stay home, refrain from talking unless questions are directed at you. Some of the most successful salespeople will say little or nothing during showings for two reasons: they have made their selling points before entering the house, and they want the buyers to discover some things for themselves to build excitement. Trust the salesperson’s professional abilities, as they know the buyer’s temperament. HOME’S FAULTS | We are living in an age of consumerism where it’s hard to find a court that won’t favor the buyer in a dispute. In fact, consumer groups and many government agencies are taking the posture that the seller has an obligation to disclose everything. If you have a problem in your home, don’t mask it. If you have a major problem that you don’t intend to correct, be candid about it. Most buyers who otherwise like the home will be philosophical about a problem that is openly displayed. In many instances, they will discount the price they offer by far less than the cost of the repair.
Some Important Reminders VALUABLES | You may have valuable possessions that you like to display in your home, but when the house is being shown to strangers it is not a good idea. Never leave small valuable items lying around on counters or visible in closets or cabinets. Put them out of sight or remove them from the house. EXCLUSIONS FROM THE SALE | Make a note now of the items you do not intend to include with the sale of the house. Free standing items generally are not included but, when in doubt, spell it out. Some items that fall into this area are light fixtures, draperies, large mirrors, water softeners, garage door openers and pool equipment and supplies.
KEYS | As you are readying the house for the market, make a note to gather all the keys for the doors, dead bolts, garage doors and any padlocks around the property. ALL INSTRUCTION MANUALS | Collect all the manuals and warranties for the mechanical equipment in the house, including kitchen appliances, the water heater and softener, the air conditioning and heating units, evaporative cooling units, pool and filtration equipment, as well as electronic air filters or ducts.
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