Welcome back!

So, you have decided to sell your home! Now, all attention is on making sure you achieve a great selling price. To get the best possible price for your house, make sure it is presented in impeccable condition.

Fix what needs repair before listing your house, because most house buyers are not looking for something they have to fix up afterwards.

Paint rooms that need it. Regrout tile walls and floors. Painting, wallpapering, replacing cracked trim and old plumbing fixtures — the difference between work done by a competent amateur and a professional is usually time and money. Just make sure you don’t tackle something you can’t handle — this is no time for “on-the-job training!”. If you’re not experienced, it may be worth calling in a professional.

Consider hiring professionals to clean carpets, refinish wood floors or to do any major painting, tile or grout work. The real estate agent can help you decide what needs to be done. Consider your own experience. If you’re a veteran home seller and are willing to do the work necessary to get your house in shape to sell, and then show it yourself, a discounter may be just fine for you.

Clean up the place, get rid of junk in the basement and garage, clean the windows, and cut the grass. Clean the stove and refrigerator. Clean/polish washer, dryer, and tub. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for. Check your ceiling and under sinks for any spots that could indicate leaks. Clean like you’ve never cleaned before - When real estate agents are showing houses to buyers, the buyers are saying, “this house is dirty. If they neglected to clean, what else did they neglect?”

Clean all the door furniture; Oil all hinges if necessary. Cover up that crack on your wall. Check for loose steps, slick areas or unsafe fixtures, and deal with everything that might cause injury to a prospective buyer.

Remove any toys, sports equipment, or accessories from the yard- you might think your lawn gnome is adorable, but it could turn off a potential buyer. Put the garbage can into the garage, and close the door. Remove any junk or clutter from the yard. Lawn equipment, junk cars, kid’s toys, charcoal grills, wood piles - get rid of it all.

Clean up the neighborhood. If there’s a neighbor who’s yard is a mess, give their kids $10 to pick up the yard.

Cleaning out and organizing all of the cabinets, pantries and closets will also make the house more presentable. Make sure your house is kept clean and presentable every day during the showing period. Clean out closets to make the house seem like it has an abundance of storage. Remove clutter by storing items in basement, attic or friend’s home. Rent a storage space or sell excess items, if needed.  Have a garage sale to get rid of everything.

Clean up your teenager’s room, especially if they have any offensive posters on the wall. Do anything you can to every room to take away the cluttered look. Clean up the computer area. Box up the stuff you’re not using, and put it in the garage. Clean and polish all surfaces that collect dust. Remove and store away any personal items that detract from the presentation. Leave only the large furniture and large pictures. Don’t over crowd the house with unnecessary items.

On the day your house is open for inspection, clean and tidy up all rooms. Be sure the house smells good–hide the kitty litter box and bake some cookies. Clean the shower and toilet thoroughly, paying special attention to the base where the toilet meets the floor (that’s a real problem area for most of us).

Let the Broker sell. If you and your family are at home when the broker brings in a prospect, relax and let the expert show and tell. Don’t tag along. Better yet, take the family out and leave the professional to handle the buyers and their questions.