DETERMINING THE VALUE OF PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SHOWING

First impressions really count with home buyers – Here are some suggestions for preparing your home:

First Impressions

  • House exterior in good repair
  • House number easy to see
  • Eaves trough, down spouts and soffits painted and in good repair
  • Garage/carport clean and tidy
  • Cracked and broken window panes replaced

Seasonal Maintenance

  • Lawns cut and raked; hedges and shrubs trimmed; gardens weeded and edged
  • Leaves raked; walks swept; decks and patios cleared of leaves and debris
  • Snow and ice cleared; walkways sanded or salted
  • All windows cleaned inside and out

At the Front Door

  • Doorbell works
  • Door hardware in good repair
  • Porch and foyer clean and tidy

Interior Maintenance

  • Cracked plaster repaired
  • Chipped paint touched up
  • Door knobs and cupboards latches tight
  • Furnace wiped down and cleaned
  • Burned out light bulbs replaced
  • Squeaky doors oiled

Bathroom

  • Mirrors, fixtures and taps cleaned and polished
  • Leaky taps and toilets repaired
  • Inside cupboards and cabinets clean and neat
  • Towels clean and matching
  • Clutter put away

Kitchen

  • Sinks and taps clean and polished
  • Appliances cleaned
  • Countertops clear and polished
  • Inside of cupboards and cabinets clean and neat
  • Small appliances put away
  • Clutter put away

Creating A Buying Atmosphere

  • All lights turned on
  • Air conditioner turned on in warm weather
  • Fireplace lit in cooler weather
  • Closets neat and tidy
  • Halls and stairs cleared of clutter
  • Drapes opened during daylight
  • Background music playing quietly
  • Carpets freshly vacuumed
  • Fresh flowers in various rooms
  • Fresh air in house

Valuables

  • Jewellery and valuables locked safely away or taken with you
  • Valuable property (such as objects of art, vases, figurines, mementos) are safely situated out of reach or locked away

Pets

  • Contained or absent during showings