Home Owners Check List

• A messy or dirty home will cause prospective buyers to notice every flaw. Cleanliness signals to a buyer that the home has been well cared for and is most likely in good repair. Clean everything.



• Clean your home before you show it. Throw away what you can’t sell. The less “junk” in and around a home, the roomier it will seem. Have a garage sale. Empty closets.



• Raise the shades. Open the blinds. Pull back the curtains. Let the light in. Bright, open rooms feel larger and more inviting. Dark rooms feel small and gloomy.



• People are most often offended by odors from tobacco, pets, and cooking and musty or sour laundry. Let fresh air in. Get rid of odors that may be unfamiliar or unpleasant. Fresh flowers and potpourri can be used to your advantage. Other smells that will attract positive attention include fresh baked bread and cinnamon.



• A buyer will make a much lower offer if your house is in disrepair and will probably still insist that everything be fixed before moving in. Fix anything that is broken. This includes electrical systems/switches, plumbing, screens, windows, TV antennas, fences and doors. If it can’t be fixed, replace it or get rid of it. (No window screens are better than broken ones.) You do not want to give potential buyers reason to offer less than you are asking for.



• You never know if people will be annoyed or intimidated by your pets or even allergic to them. Send pets away or secure them away from the house when prospective buyers are coming. And you never want a prospective buyer to have to avoid animal droppings. Hire someone to come in and clean up after pets.



• Children can be noisy and distracting to someone interested in looking at a home. Send the children of all ages to grandmas or arrange for them to stay with friends.



• There’s nothing that improves the value of a home for a lower cost than a fresh coat of paint. Paint. Paint. Paint. And it’s often easier to paint a room than it is to scrub it. Stick with neutral colors—off-white is safest. Be sure to avoid black, violet and pink.



• Keep the house quiet. Turn off the TV and radio. Soft, instrumental music is fine, but avoid vocals. Silence is a restful sound that offends no one. If necessary, close the windows to get rid of any street noise.



• Don’t run any noisy equipment like a vacuum cleaner, dishwasher or any other appliance while your home is being looked at.