PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR A SELL

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The Garage

Eliminate all that stuff that you've been meaning to get rid of. Your garage should look like there is enough room for the new owner to park a car or truck.

• Have a garage sale
• Clean the trash cans to eliminate any unpleasant smell
• Make sure the space is brightly lit
• Sweep the floor
• Clean the windows
• Replace any cracked or broken window glass
• Get rid of cobwebs
• The garage door is easy to maneuver up and down
• Pile up cartons together in one corner
• Recycle old magazines and newspapers
• Hang bicycles on bicycle hooks
• Hang tools on peg board
• Hang rakes, shovels, brooms, hoes, etc. from hooks
• Clean off the work bench
• Put up shelving for paint cans, containers of nails and screws, bags of fertilizer, winter tires, etc.
• Place all sporting balls in bins
• Organize gardening equipment
• All children's toys, strollers, wagons, etc. are organized together
• Replace outside basketball hoop if net is torn

The Garage - Lasting Impressions

• Curtains in the windows
• A weather vane on the roof
• Flowering shrubs around the exterior
• A large wall clock
• A hobby project on the work bench... possibly a piece of furniture being refinished

The Interior

Clean every room thoroughly. For most buyers, houses must have that "ready to move into" look. Scuffed and finger-printed walls are a big turn-off for most buyers. Painting is the cheapest and easiest way to fix the problem but remember to choose a color that appeals to everyone. Neutrals like ivory and light gray are an attractive alternative to white.

If you have pets make sure your home doesn't smell like it. Smells, both pleasant and unpleasant, trigger instant andstrong responses that are extremely difficult to change.

• Repair any house foundation cracks
• Clean all windows, including those in the garage
• Replace any cracked or broken window glass
• Repair any wood rot
• Check window screens. Replace any that are bent or bulging
• Repair and/or replace caulking and weather-stripping around windows and doors
• Storm windows are available and clean
• Exterior doors lock properly and are easy to open and shut
• Oil any squeaky door hinges
• Doorbells are working properly
• Polish any brass door handles
• Interior doors lock properly
• All doors and walls are free of fingerprints
• Illuminate dark corners with brighter light bulbs
• Consider replacing standard lighting with some track lighting
• Repair any noisy pipes
• Repair any squeaky floorboards
• Repair any cracks in floorboards or floor tiles
• Replace loose floorboards or floor tiles
• Repair any woodwork (door frames, baseboards, chair rails, etc.) if chipped or dented
• Give woodwork a fresh coat of paint, if necessary
• Smoke & heat detectors are operating
• Fire extinguishers are in proper locations
• All electrical outlets are functioning properly. Try not to have extension cords running all around a room
• All electrical switches are working
• All electrical wall switches have plate covers
• All electrical wall plates are free of fingerprints
• Electrical wiring is up to safety standards
• Central vacuum is functioning properly and the collection bin is cleaned out
• All telephone jacks function
• Home insulation is up to standards
• Fumigate house, if bothered by pests or rodents
• Eliminate unpleasant odors ... cooking, pets, cigarette smoke, damp, musty

The Interior - Lasting Impressions

• A home security system
• House at a comfortable temperature
• Soft music playing
• The aroma of coffee brewing, or something baking in the oven
• All interior doors wide open to create a sense of spaciousness
• Curtains open (For maximum natural light)
• Interior lights on to create a warm ambiance
• No pets or children racing through the house
• An unobstructed "walking path" through the house
• Buyers shouldn't have to maneuver around too many pieces of furniture
• A planned spot for the buyers and agent to sit and discuss the house - possibly the kitchen - with tea, coffee and a tray with cups and saucers, cream and sugar, and cookies ready on the counter.
• A printed sheet for buyer's describing what you enjoy most about living in your home