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Preparing Your Home
OUTSIDE YOUR HOME
- Keep the lawn neat and trim during the marketing
period. Keep it watered in the summer and leaves raked in the fall. Also, fertilize and
kill weeds to make your grass look lush.
- Edge the lawn along the sidewalks and driveway for a
finished appearance. Remove any grass or weeds between cracks in sidewalks or driveway.
- Trim all shrubbery and remove any low lying or dead
tree limbs.
- Clean, repair or replace gutters, downspouts and
window shutters.
- Paint any trim that is blistering.
- Plant flowers in the front yard.
- Repaint or restain the front door to create a
pleasant first impression.
- Replace any cracked windows and torn screens from
windows and doors, particularly those on the front of the house.
- Make sure any gates swing properly and fences are in
good repair. Repaint, if necessary.
- Be sure that the doorbell works properly and that
exterior doors, particularly the front door open, close and lock properly.
INSIDE YOUR HOME
- Paint rooms that are dirty, worn or faded. A freshly
painted home is usually well worth the cost.
- Have wall-to-wall carpeting and draperies cleaned.
- Fix any dripping faucets. Often, only a washer is
needed.
- Clean bathrooms until they sparkle! Replace old
caulking around the bathtubs.
- Spray lubricant on any squeaking doors, windows,
closets and cabinets.
- Place a deodorizer in each room and closet.
- Store out of season clothes so the closets do not
look cluttered.
- Remove items from the floors of walk-in closets so
prospects can have easy access. Clean and organize closets (be sure clothes are hung
neatly and other articles are neatly arranged).
- Stack all items in the garage, basement and attic
against the walls to show maximum floor space. Vacuum the garage and basement floors and
rafters.
- Put away excess appliances on the kitchen counter to
expose maximum counter space.
- Pre-pack items which may clutter your home and make
your rooms appear smaller.
- Rearrange furniture, if necessary, to make each room
appear spacious.
- Tighten loose banisters and clear staircases of
everything.
- Replace broken or cracked switch plates.
- Repair sticking doors, windows and loose door knobs.
Wash windows, sills, light fixtures, ceiling fans and range hoods. Clean and polish
floors. Remove stains from toilets, tubs and sinks.
- Clean your home top to bottom.
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