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Home Seller’s
Checklist
How To Make Your
Home
Look Great
and
Sell Quickly!
I think
this will help sell your home faster, and this is great information!
TOGETHER, you and I can make your home sell quickly and help
you reach your goals. That's why I am, "The Realtor That Cares!".
A
Personal Note From Chris:
The truth is ... most people don’t live this way! Many (if not most) of these
tips may appear overstated or unrealistic to you and your lifestyle. However,
your home has now become a product offered for sale. As such, we want to make
the product appealing to the majority of Buyers. The closer you can get your
home to the “ideal” the more your goals of a quick sale at
a good price will be met. I’ll be providing you with
feedback from the agents who show your home. Please don’t be offended. Let’s
work together to reach your goals! Hang in there. Below are items that you can
do to help your home show well. This is what I recommend when listing your home
with me.
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Probably the single most important thing you can do to make your home sell
is to price it right.
Chris
will suggest a reasonable price range based on recent SOLD properties
similar to your home, but only you, the Seller, set the price!
If we don’t have Showings in the first two weeks on the market, a price
reduction may be in order. |
Paint Rooms Light Neutral
Color.
Remove Drapes (Leave
Miniblinds).
Remove Unnecessary Pieces of
Furniture.
Clean Out Coat Closet - Put
Items in Storage Unit.
Clean Out Garage.
Clean Out Attic.
Rent a Storage Unit for Extra
Items - Have a Moving Sale.
Remove Small Pictures From the
Walls.
Remove Items From Countertops.
Put in Higher Wattage Light
bulbs.
Remove Some Toys to Storage
Unit.
Take Extra Leaf Out of Dining
Room Table.
Check Walk Flow to Make Sure
Potential Buyers Don’t Have to Walk Around Furniture.
Your
home will be compared to Model Homes that are vacant and always clean and
open!
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Buyer’s
First Impressions
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Repaint Exterior, if needed
(may need trim only).
Pressure Wash the Home and
Driveway.
Sweep the Front Porch.
Keep Newspapers and Flyers
Picked Up.
Hang a Simple Grapevine Wreath
on the Front Door.
Install a Peephole for
Security.
Replace Siding, as needed.
Replace Missing Shingles, as
needed.
Replace Gutters, as needed.
Clean Gutters.
Clean Windows Until They Shine
-- Scrape, if Necessary.
Clean Shutters.
Replace Shutters, as needed.
Use Quick Greening Fertilizer
on the Lawn -- Ammonium Sulfate, Urea, or Ammonium Nitrate.
Edge the Lawn.
Remove Children’s Toys and
Bikes.
Seal Cracks in Driveway and
Walkway.
Remove Leaves/Pine Needles from
Lawn and Roof.
Your
home’s “Curb Appeal” (or first impression from the street as you approach
the home) will be the thing that entices the potential buyer to take a look
inside. |
Clean the Kitchen From Top to
Bottom.
Clean the Oven.
Clean the Refrigerator.
Remove all Refrigerator Magnets
and Items from the Front of the Refrigerator.
Put Away Most Small Appliances.
Put Away Items off Countertops.
Clean the Inside of the
Dishwasher -- Try Running it With the Soap Dishes Filled with Powdered
Instant Lemonade (like Country time). The Citric Acid Works Wonders!
Clean Out Drawers to Eliminate
Fears of Too Little Space.
Paint the Kitchen a Neutral
Color.
Light Wood is Best for Kitchen
Cabinets - Paint or Update.
Change Cabinet Hardware or
Clean Very Well.
Remove Pet Dishes, Toys and
Litter Boxes From Kitchen.
Have Appliances Refinished
(Harvest Gold, Brown, and Avocado Green are Currently Unpopular Colors.
Paint with White or Ivory).
Add Under-Cabinet Lights.
Remove Window Treatments in
Kitchen. Make it sunny!
If the Laundry Room is off the
Kitchen, Make Sure it’s Uncluttered, Neat and Clean. |
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Replace Carpet Throughout the
Home with Neutral Color (or offer a price allowance for carpet replacement).
Replace Front Door.
Paint Front Door.
Remove Storm Door.
Repair Storm Door.
Add Brass Kick plate to Front
Door.
Install New Mailbox and Post.
Create Distinct Entry with
Divider, Plants, Hallway Hutch.
New Floor mat at Entry.
Clean Cobwebs from the Doorway.
Eliminate Odors -- Pets,
Smoking, Kitchen, Basement (There is a fantastic product called Simple
Solution which is available at pet stores such as Pet Smart. Eliminates all
types of organic odors!) |
Clean Ceramic Tile and Grout.
Repair Loose or Cracked Tiles.
Downplay Dated Ceramic Tile
Colors with White Towels and Window Treatments.
Buy a New Shower Curtain --
Avoid Patterns.
Shine Chrome Fixtures -- Stiff
Brush with White Vinegar Works Great.
Remove Stains from Sink.
Replace Rusted Sinks.
Repair Leaky Faucets.
Remove Personal Toiletries on
Display.
Glue Down Wallpaper Where it’s
Loose or Curling.
Use Fancy Basket for Books and
Magazines.
Replace Toilet Seat(s).
Repair or Replace Exhaust Fan.
Install GFCI Outlet. |
Living Room
(Applies to Entire Home)
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Put Away Collections (Figurines
and Fragile Items).
Store any Political or
Religious Momentos, as well as any Business or Sports Awards (you want the
potential buyer to think of the home as theirs and they may not have
the same interests that you do).
No Animal (Fur) Rugs.
No Family Photos.
Silence any Squeaky Floors.
Use Half Curtains to Disguise
Bad Views.
Remove Any Crowded Furniture --
Open the Rooms Up! |
Put New WHITE Tablecloth on the
Table.
Use a Centerpiece on the Table.
Place Fresh-Cut Flowers in a
Vase on the Table
Light, then Blow Out Candles.
Clean Chandelier Bulbs and
Globe (Dust Regularly). Globes May be Run Through the Dishwasher.
Remove Valuables From Sight. |
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New Bedspread.
Make the Beds Everyday.
Keep Headboards Clear and Free
from Clutter.
Be Sure Children’s Toys are Put
Away.
Remove any Bulky Furniture.
Make Rooms Appear Large.
Remove any Dark or Outdated
Wallpaper. Paint the Walls with a Light, Neutral Color.
Clean Out Closets -- Make Them
Appear as if There is Plenty of Room to Spare.
Install Closet Organizer and
Keep Clothing Neat.
Organize Shoes on Shoe Racks.
Don’t Store Valuables in Sight
-- Place Jewelry in Drawers or Store Away from the Home. |
Trim all Hedges and Shrubs.
Strive for Neat Appearance.
Add Mulch to Flowerbeds and
Shrubs.
Repair Fence.
Plant Flowers or Add
Pots/Containers of Bright Flowers.
Clean Pool as Needed.
Provide a Fact Sheet on
Swimming Pool -- Show the Cost and Time Involved in Upkeep. Many People
Worry that a Pool is Too Expensive and Time Consuming.
Remove:
Old Rusted Swing Set
Old Rusted
Basketball Goals
Old Rusted
Lawn Furniture
Old Rusted
Grill
Dead Trees
or Shrubs
Old Flowers
from Past Season
Leaves, Dead
Branches, Weeds and Debris
Garbage Cans -- Store Neatly
in the Garage. |
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Remove Stains from Garage
Floor.
Make Basement Look Functional
and Well Organized.
Clean Basement Windows.
Wipe Down the Furnace and Water
Heater with a Damp Sponge. Keep Utility Room Uncluttered.
Move any Extra Boxes and
Unnecessary Items to Your Storage Unit.
Spray with Simple Solution to
Give a Fresh Smell. |
It’s Recommended that Pets be
Kenneled During the Time Your Home is on the Market. If that isn’t
possible, please let Chris know the names and location (backyard, dog run,
etc.) of the pets. If you have a pet you don’t want let out of the home
(the cat?), please be sure to let Chris know so she can alert other agents
to be careful!
See note under Entrance to
Home for dealing with pet odors (Simple Solution). A neutral
smell is important. |
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Please don’t be home for
Showings. The Buyer will spend more time looking if the Seller is not
there. Go to the neighbors. Walk the dog. Go to another part of the home
while the prospective buyers are in another section of the home. The goal
is to have the potential Buyer think of the home as theirs.
Open all curtains, drapes and
blinds during the day.
For evening Showings, turn on
all the lights before you leave.
If anything is broken, you must
disclose the issue. Even easier ... have it fixed!
Sprinkle a few drops of vanilla
on a warm stove burner to create a pleasing smell in the
home. Remember to turn the burner off! Alternatively, you can warm a pan
of water with a few drops of vanilla in the oven.
Bake bread or cookies to fill
the house with a pleasant smell. (Do you have my yummy recipe for Apple Pie
in a Bag?)
Run the vacuum cleaner every
morning before you leave the house.
After your shower, dry the
stall and tub with a towel.
Please refrain from smoking in
the home. Remove all ashtrays. Remove strong cooking odors. See note
under Entrance to Home for help with odors (Simple Solution). A
neutral smell is important.
Let Chris know if you run low
on brochures or business cards.
Let Chris know if any doors are
left unlocked or windows are left open by agents showing the home.
PLEASE
CALL CHRIS WITH ANY QUESTIONS. 502-777-9027
I
Appreciate Your Referrals! |
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