Prepare Your Home For Sale

Preparing a home for sale can be a cause of anxiety for sellers. Homeowners who are preparing to sell sometimes try to do too much to improve their property, while other times they do too little.

While some structural improvements may be necessary, others are best left for the buyers who will want the freedom to select their own choice of materials or colors. For example a leaky faucet in the bathroom should be repaired, but it shouldn't be necessary to install a new tile floor in that bathroom. In most cases, a thorough cleaning and some fresh paint are the two most important preparations the seller can undertake to create the best presentation and speed the sale of the home.

Here is a list of ten things homeowners should do to prepare a home for sale:

1. Paint and clean the front entrance. First impressions cannot be under-estimated. Your home's curb appeal depends upon how the property looks to prospective buyers when they first arrive and before they even set foot inside the home. A fresh coat of paint, especially for the front entrance, can take years off the life of your home.
2. Replace or polish light fixtures, particularly those at the front door and inside the front foyer. A well lit home is welcoming and warm.
3. Clean the yard. Remove toys, bicycles, refuse containers and any old scrap materials, and make sure the lawn is mowed and shrubs or other perennials are properly clipped. A fresh bed of mulch around flowerbeds or shrubs is like a fresh coat of paint for your yard.
4. Wash all the windows inside and out, and remove screens to further improve the sparkling clean quality of the glass. This often over-looked cleaning is not difficult and improves the look of the house from outside, while enhancing the quality of light inside.
5. Scrub the interior of the home thoroughly, including painted walls, floorboards, light fixtures and switches, as well as floors and bathrooms. Clean and polish the surface of the stovetop and all sinks. Clean the interiors of the oven, refrigerator and/or microwave oven. The house will not only be clean, it will smell clean, and if you have pets, consider removing their litter-boxes or sleeping beds to a garage location when visitors are expected. A light air deodorizer is especially helpful if pets live in the house. Keeping the home this clean is an effort that will pay for itself in a speedier sale.
6. Eliminate all clutter. Do your best to keep counter-tops bare. Cabinets and closets also should be empty except for only the most necessary storage. Photos or collectibles may be your personal joy, but they can be a distraction for buyers who are more interested in a clear view of how much space the home offers. Eliminating clutter will make the rooms look bigger and storage spaces more adequate.
7. Repair basic utilities. As previously noted, dripping faucets, sticky windows and loose doorknobs are basic repairs that should be made before showing the house. Make sure all window and door locks work, and that the toilets don't run.
8. Fresh paint may be appropriate for ceilings or walls of the interior, but be sure to select the most neutral colors and tones of white, beige or blue. A fresh coat of paint (if needed) makes the house feel and look newer, but the buyers won't want to face re-painting if your colors clash with their furnishings.
9. Hire a carpet cleaner to shampoo rugs. In most cases, spots and pet stains can be cleaned with a professional effort and it is not usually necessary to replace carpeting. If the rugs are so worn they need to be replaced, remember the neutral colors rule.
10. Plan to vacate the premises whenever the home is being shown. Prospective buyers need the freedom to envision themselves living in the property, and they want the comfort of asking questions without worrying about the seller's feelings.