How to Prepare Your Property for Sale

Preparing Your Home for Showing

Once you decided to sell your home, you already have to think about how to prepare the home for showings and keep it ready at all times as if it was a showroom. There are a number of other things that you and your real estate agent have to discuss about a smooth sale; work as a team to achieve the best possible price in the shortest amount of time.

While your Real Estate agent is a master on marketing homes, your role is to make your home attractive and ready for viewing. Remember that first impression counts and we need to do everything to make it a positive one.

Take a tour inspecting your home, observe it as if you were the potential buyer. Take notes of minor repairs, paint jobs or whatever other jobs that need to be done. The realtor might make suggestions to improve its marketability. There are four (4) major areas to look at closely.

The Exterior/Curb Appeal

Since the exterior of your home will be the first thing a prospective buyer sees, it is very important to create a good first impression.

Keep the lawn trimmed and edged; weed and cultivate flower gardens; trim shrubs and eliminate dead trees or branches. Pick up debris, toys and lawn equipment.

Repair fences and gates; give them a fresh coat of paint, if necessary

Make sure the exterior is well painted, the roof in good shape, as well as the gutters and downspouts

Wash down driveways and sidewalks; check them for cracking and crumbling

Replace cracked windows and torn screens

The entrance should be clean and in good repair; the doorbell and front light must be in good working condition

The Interior/MISC

Start with a general house cleaning from top to bottom. Don't let dirt and clutter obscure your home's good spots. Discard unused and unnecessary items in storage area and closets; eliminating clutter will give your home a more spacious look. That is a great selling point.

Walls should be clean and free of smudges, fingerprints, kids drawings and dents. Consider a fresh coat of paint if a good washing doesn't to the job. Inspect any woodwork and wallpaper for any damaged areas

Stage room in a way to make rooms appear more spacious and attractive

Wash windows, seals and make sure curtains and window shades are freshly laundered/cleaned

Remove personal pictures from walls in the hallways or the common living space

Carpets must be professionally cleaned; clean and wax all floors

Repair loose doorknobs, make sure doors close properly

Fix leaky faucets and eliminate water discoloration in the sink and bath tub

Tighten loose stair banisters and keep the stairway free of any objects

Clean our closet to display more room; be sure clothes are hung neatly and shoes are in order

Bathrooms should be sparkling clean; repair caulking in tubs and shower areas; bathrooms should appear neat with attractive window treatments and shower curtains (in case you don't have glass doors)

Clean and organize the basement area, attic and garage spaces.

Don't Over Improve

Use caution in planning major improvements that you think will enable you to get more for the house then you paid for it. It is true that investing in a fresh coat of paint and having the carpets cleaned are well worth the cost. However, you don't want to invest a lot of time and money when you are planning to sell a property.

Many people tend to live with a broken doorknob or a little crack in the window, but all these things should be fixed because no prospective buyer wants to do things you let run down.

Most people shopping for a house are looking for a home that has been well maintained for and is in good shape. Once they move in they just want to make it their own, start decorating and make a few small changes eventually. As a seller, you would come out better selling them the potential at a price they can afford.

Showing The Home - this is the time to impress and sell the property

1. Schedule accordingly: Prospective buyers feel more comfortable and free to inspect the home if you/the owner are not present; this also allows the realtor to do his/her job with less distraction or interruption.

2. Pets should always be removed from the premises during showings. Reason being that some buyers could be allergic, or some pets can get aggressive around new people.

3. The television and radio should be turned off so the realtor and buyer can visit without disturbance and could have a decent conversation.

4. Leave draperies and shades open for light and an open feeling for the view; for evening hour showings all lights should be turned onto give the rooms a cheerful atmosphere and a warm welcome into the space. Also, have the lights on in the basement and closet areas.

5. Make sure the kitchen is free of dirty dishes, the stove and oven are clean, cabinet doors are close and all garbage is removed.

6. In the bathrooms, towels should be hung on the racks, cosmetics and personal items tucked away in the cabinet and the commode lid closed.

7. A good general rule: be sure there is no clutter anywhere; closets, cabinets and all storage area are neat and tidy and the doors closed. Remove some items if there is too much in one space.