Showing to Sell

Making a Home Look Its Best

Other than the price, the first impression your home makes is the most important attribute of a sale. When you place your home for sale, you will make more money if it looks its best.

Look at your house as though you are seeing it for the first time. See its good points and its not-so-good points. Take steps to add to the good points and to fix the not-so-good points.

The list below will assist you in reviewing the attributes of your home so that it will show to its best advantage.

How to Start

Before you spend any significant amount of money, consult your broker. The broker can tell you whether the expense will pay off in an increased sales price or a decreased selling time.

Exterior

  • Mow the lawn
  • Trim trees and shrubs
  • Weed flower beds and yard
  • Clean or repair walks, driveway, steps and porches
  • Paint trim and front of house
  • Clean and repair roof, gutters, and downspouts
  • Paint front door, mailbox, and back door
  • Repair or replace storm doors
  • Clean and repair screens and storm windows
  • Clean, paint, repair garage – throw away anything you don’t intend to keep

Interior

  • Paint, if necessary
  • Clean windows
  • Clean and polish floors
  • Make sure all light bulbs are working
  • Make sure all doors and windows are working properly
  • Make sure light switches work
  • Repair and paint cracked walls and ceilings
  • Fix dripping faucets
  • Clear clogged drains
  • Clean fireplace
  • Straighten all closets
  • Use potpourri or other pleasant smells
  • Vacuum or shampoo rugs as needed
  • Clean heating and air conditioning system, furnace, boiler, etc.
  • Throw away what you’re not going to move

Kitchen

  • Paint or polish cabinets
  • Clean ventilating hood and fan
  • Repair, clean and wax floor
  • Clear off counter tops
  • Make sure drawers work properly
  • Put appliances out of sight: stack items neatly in cabinets

Bedrooms

  • Make beds
  • Vacuum floor

Living Room/Den

  • Play “Middle of the road” music in the background
  • Stack newspapers/magazines
  • Clean and dust shelves and appliances, TV, and stereo

Dining Room

  • Polish furniture

Laundry Area

  • Remove hanging clothes
  • Put away supplies
  • Clean/polish appliances

Don’t Take It Personally

If you are home when a prospect arrives, relax, stay out of the way, and let your broker show your home.

Answer questions truthfully. If you have helped your home make a good first impression by carefully going over this list, your home will sell itself.