Real-estate agents have a saying: "The way you sell your home is not
the way you live in it." Try to look at your home through the eyes of
a potential buyer when you're preparing it for sale. The hard part?
Keeping the house spotless day after day for prospective buyers who
may show up on a half-hour's notice.
Instructions
1. Maximize your home's curb appeal. Feed, mow and water your lawn regularly. Plant colorful annual flowers near the door, and make sure you weed and trim the rest of your garden. Wash the windows and pick up any trash.
2. Perform any needed repairs on the interior or exterior of your home. Fix, paint or cosmetically enhance anything that might hinder a sale.
3. Declutter all rooms to make them look and feel larger (see 1 Get Organized and 37 Conquer Clutter). Also, clear out the closets so they look roomier.
4. Clean the oven, stove, refrigerator, exhaust fan and kitchen sink very thoroughly--and keep them clean. Clear the kitchen counters of items you don't use daily.
5. Replace the toilet seat and shower curtain. Clean the bathroom thoroughly and hang fresh towels every day.
6. Send your pets to camp. You love 'em, but your potential buyers may be afraid or allergic (see 77 Safeguard Your Home Against Allergens). Deal with pest problems, such as mice, fleas and flies.
7. Vacuum your carpets, or have them professionally cleaned. Clean and polish all smooth floors.
8. Fix ripped window screens. Replace cracked or broken panes, and make sure all windows open, close and lock smoothly.
9. Patch any holes or cracks in the walls and ceilings. Give them a fresh coat of paint in a neutral color such as off-white. (Be sure you allow enough time for paint to dry so the house doesn't have that fresh-paint smell.)
10. Have your house professionally staged (see StagedHomes.com for local sources). This will cost you, but staging a home aesthetically can shorten the time to sale and boost the bidding.
11. Keep the garage door closed, no matter how spiffed up your garage is.
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