100ish Ways to Prepare your Home to Be Sold

When you’re looking to sell your home it needs to have curb appeal and a feeling that says “Welcome home” as you walk through the door. Well, I guess it doesn’t have to, but if you’re into things like selling your home quickly for the highest possible price, I highly recommend making your home attractive to buyers.

The reality is, when you are getting ready to sell, you are going to overlook some things that need to be taken care of. In comes this list of items that says, “Hey, don’t forget about THIS if you plan on getting your home sold.”

Below is somewhere around 100 things you can do to get your home ready to sell.

Exterior of your home:

Plaster – be sure it’s clean and not damaged

Siding – be sure it’s clean, not damaged, paint if needed

Trim – be sure it’s clean, not damaged, paint if needed

Rain gutters – Clean out, be sure all are intact and not damaging the home (see video)

Shutters – Clean, functional

Doors – Clean, not worn or chipped

Window frames – Clean, not damaged

Screens – all in place, not damaged

Hardware – check for rust

Fences and gates – all functional and not requiring additional maintenance

Walls – check for damage

Roof – Check the life of roof (especially if home is more than 20 years old) Also: SEE VIDEO

Doorbell – works properly

Windows – clean, open and shut correctly

AC unit – clean around it

Trash storage area – is neat and not overflowing

Piles of firewood or other material stored outside – kept neat and organized

Pet poop – clean up frequently

Oil and other stains in driveway – clean excessive stains

Major cracks in driveway – repair

Landscaping:

Lawn mowed frequently

Aerate or fertilize lawn if needed

Seed or sod bare spots in lawn

Keep lawn watered

Prune trees, bushes, and shrubs

Remove dead plants or trees

Prune or remove trees and shrubs that can potentially damage exterior of home or foundation

Remove weeds

Trim grass or weeds around walls, fences, or house

Replace broken sprinkler heads

Adjust sprinkler heads heads (see video below)

Install new shrubs or flowers in bare areas (especially front yard)

Check additional items in yard for cleanliness and functionality – fountains, garden lights, pool, hot tub, statues, etc.

Interior

Rooms:

Doors – clean, paint if necessary

Windows – keep clean

Light switches – working, clean

Baseboards – clean

Curtains – clean

Check that all windows slide properly

Ceiling fans – clean/dust

Ceiling light fixtures – clean/dust

Check for cobwebs in corners

Fix any damaged wood or tile flooring

Carpet – have cleaned with a good carpet cleaner, or have professionally cleaned. Replace if damaged or extremely worn.

Use area rugs where needed

Empty trash cans

Keep beds made

Fluff pillows

Walls – clean, paint if necessary (neutral colors only)

Kitchen:

Keep dishes out of sight

Clean appliances

Clean range, hood, light bulbs under hood

Clean behind appliances

Mop or clean floors frequently

Electrical outlets – be sure that all function

Eliminate cooking odors

Garbage disposal – be sure it works and does not smell. Repair of adjust gasket if it’s noisy.

Dishwasher – functions properly, clean to remove hard water spots if necessary

Refrigerator – clean thoroughly and keep it well organized

Faucets – functioning properly

Sinks – clean, not damaged

Replace shelf paper if needed

Cabinets – remove clutter. Make them look like grocery store shelves (well organized)

Clean under sink

Wall and ceiling – check for food splatter and clean. Paint if necessary (neutral colors)

Bathrooms:

Clean and shine mirrors

Keep trash cans clean and empty

Clean out cabinets and remove non-essentials

Keep counters clean

Keep fresh, clean towels on racks

Clean shower door

Replace shower curtain and liner if needed

Clean shower and tub thoroughly – check for mildew, mold, soap residue, lime, etc.

Replace caulking where needed

Remove stains from counter, toilet, shower, tub, floors.

Toilet – cleaned regularly, flushes properly

Exhaust fan – keep clean, replace or repair if needed

Lights – be sure all lights work and replace bulbs if needed

Walls – clean, paint if necessary (neutral colors)

Closets:

Remove clutter

Throw away or pack away non-essentials

Adjust or repair sliding doors

Check for cobwebs

Clean and dust

Laundry area:

Clean behind washer and dryer

Eliminate odors

Keep area cleaned (floors, cabinets, sink, etc.)

Basement:

Check for signs of dampness

Check for cracks

Check all lights work properly

Call a professional for advice on any signs of damage

Heating and Air Conditioning System:

Check service record

Have serviced if needed

Replace filters

Clean intake vent

Garage/Carport/Shed:

Be sure lights work and are bright

Keep clean and free of clutter – put things in storage or get rid of them, if needed.

Hang up or put away tools

Clear away cobwebs

Clean stains on floor

Be sure garage door functions properly

Be sure garage door opener functions properly and has safety mechanisms working properly

Paint if needed

Getting Started:

So there you go! Do all of these things today! Okay, maybe not. The reality is if you did everything on this list you could end up doing a complete remodel, and that’s not the idea. You just want to be sure that your house is show ready so when potential buyers come through there is nothing that will turn them off and detract them from purchasing your home.

Even if you are not planning on selling immediately, this is a good list to have so you can address any issues sooner than later. Just as an example: If you have to replace a roof, have a leak fixed in your basement, hire a lawn service, and paint the exterior of your home all in a month, things can really start to add up. Tack that onto having to clean behind appliances, clean light fixtures, and address other issues beyond your weekly chore duties and all of this can be overwhelming. So basically, the sooner you can start on this stuff, the better.

And one more thing: How does your home smell? Seriously. That is one of the first things a potential buyer will notice when entering your home. Air fresheners are not a bad idea, just nothing too overwhelming. Pet odors, dust, and other unpleasant scents can be a turn off. Concerning food odors, things like fresh baked bread, fresh brewed coffee, or fresh baked cookies are great scents that most people will appreciate. However, I recommend steering clear of steamed crab, sauerkraut, and other foods that can have an overbearing scent.

Another tip: Break it into chunks. 10 items per day for all the minor things. Even if you only worked Saturday and Sunday on the list, you would be done in about 5 weeks. During that time you could have contractors working on the major projects. Obviously every home is different, but breaking it into chunks can help.

And now, seriously, if you’re looking to list your home on the market soon, get started!

To contact me about selling your home in Tri Cities, enter your information below or call/text/email me directly.