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Setting The Stage

Enhance Value and encourage a quick sale with these quick tips for staging your home.

Now that you’ve decided to sell, it’s time to take stock of your home. The condition is a major factor in enhancing value and increasing chance of quick sale. Below is a checklist of “honey-dos” to increase curb and home appeal and increase your bottom-line.

Curb Appeal  

Use a critical eye. Walk across the street and view your home from all perspectives. Curb appeal and landscaping sell. Make sure front door, wood trim and landscaping are in order. This is the Buyer’s first impression. Let’s make it count.

  • Wash windows and replace screens.
  • Replace rotten wood.
  • Clean and repair gutters and downspouts.
  • Secure shingles. If roof leaks, fix it.
  • Reseal cracks in driveway or patio.
  • Remove windsocks and decorative flags.
  • Clear porches, steps, balconies & patio of clutter.
  • Paint or stain entrance doors.
  • Keep hose and garden equipment out of sight.
  • Keep yard mowed, edged, raked and fertilized at all times.
  • Plant flowers in front of house.
  • Trim shrubs, mulch beds.
  • Potted flowers on front porch.
  • Clean pool.
  • Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash, etc. from yard.
  • Invest in new front door mat.

Home Appeal  

Buyers today want space, light and a clean home. This means most of us need to declutter, brighten rooms and deep clean. Visible deferred maintenance often results in lower offers and wary Buyers. Use the checklist below to begin taking inventory of home improvements that need to be made.

  •  Clean or replace carpeting, damaged hardwood, tile or vinyl.
  • Move pets and pet items outside or in garage.
  • Do all minor repairs.
  • Clean all windows and blinds.
  • Clean all light fixtures and bulbs. Add 100 watt bulbs to show your home in the best light.
  • Clean all ceiling fans.
  • Keep home dusted and vacuumed at all times.
  • Regardless of season, tackle spring cleaning. Clean everything in home from top to bottom.
  • Put away family photos until home is under contract. Buyers become distracted from the house when they begin to focus on your family pictures.
  • Remove clutter from all rooms to visually enlarge them.
  • Clean and straighten closets.
  • Rent a storage unit to store unnecessary items from attic, house, basement, garage or tool shed. Or have a garage sale.
  • Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, or odors resulting from hobbies.
  • Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps.
  • Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.
  • Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.
  • Remove ceiling cobwebs.
  • Repair ceiling cracks and stains.
  • Service HVAC, cleans vents, change filters.
  • Remove all personal items (bathroom mirror, chandelier) that you do not intend to leave behind.
  • Polish furniture.
  • If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.
  • Windex top of refrigerator & appliances.
  • Replace pans under 4 eyes of range top.
  • Clean oven.
  • Expand counter space by eliminating small appliances.
  • Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
  • In bathrooms, clean mirrors, caulk sinks and tubs, and fix leaky faucets.
  • Hang new shower curtain.
  • Clean laundry room.
  • Clean garage. Record paint formulas and toss old paint cans.