Prepare your house to Sell
All homes tend to sell for money after they are prepared properly for the market. I would suggest that you start on the outside. Home Selling Starts With the Exterior. First impressions count. That's why your yard needs to be inviting.
EXTERIOR
Trim back the bushes and trees, especially if they block views from the windows and make your home difficult to see from the street.
Keep the lawn mowed
Plant yellow flowers such as marigolds along the walk or by the front door. The color yellow sells.
Wash the exterior windows.
Paint or replace the front door and buy new hardware.
Power spray the house to get rid of dirt and cobwebs.
Buy a new welcome mat for the front steps.
Paint or replace the mailbox.
Paint your house number on the curb or buy a plaque displaying your house number and install near the entry.
Wash or replace a front porch light fixture.
PACK & CLEAN
Remove Excess Clutter and Furniture. Many homes contain too much furniture. You may benefit from removing 2 to 3 pieces of furniture from each room. Less furniture will make the rooms appear bigger.
Remove all personal photographs from tables and walls.
Patch holes in the walls or hang non-personalized artwork over the existing nails.
Pack up your bookcases (you're going to move anyway).
Clean out the closets and store non-essential items.
Rearrange your kitchen pantry, kitchen cabinets and bedroom closets in an orderly manner.
Thoroughly Clean the House Before Selling. You can hire a professional cleaning crew or do it yourself. Be sure to wash the inside of the windows.
Rent a carpet steamer and clean the carpets. You may find they do not need to be replaced.
Dust the tops of your doorways and window frames.
Polish all wood / ceramic flooring.
Wash all light fixture coverings and ceiling fan blades.
To give your home a more open feeling, consider removing a few doors that open into each other or otherwise block the flow of traffic.
KITCHEN
Kitchens are the most important room in the house. It's the heart and soul of the home. Even if a buyer is not much of a cook, the kitchen is still where family and friends tend to gather.
Buy new knobs and / or pulls for the cabinet doors. New hardware will transform the appearance of your cabinets.
Replace a worn kitchen faucet.
Buy new kitchen sink basket strainers.
Consider installing kitchen pendant lights over the sink.
Clear your kitchen counters as much as you can.
PAINT
Painting is one of the best ways to freshen the house and prepare it for sale.
Hire a Professional painter, or paint yourself. However, this is not the time to get creative.
Choose a soft color, (light grey or off white), and paint every room the same color.
Consider painting ceilings. Ceilings really pop if they are a lighter color than the color of the walls. Lighter colors also make the ceilings appear higher.
BATHROOMS
Freshening Bathrooms - If you have wallpaper in the bathroom, it's most likely peeling and should be removed. You can rent a steamer to remove the wallpaper or strip it yourself.
Consider replacing the toilet and vanity, especially if they are stained or particularly outdated. If entire toilet does not need replaced, consider replace toilet lids in all bathrooms…make sure to match color.
Buy a two-light wall fixture or a light bar for over the sink.
If the tub is stained, hire a professional to refinish it.
Replace water-stained shower doors or clean them with a lime dissolving detergent.
Buy a new shower curtain and tie it back with ribbons.
Hang fresh towels and lay down a new bath rug.
Place scented candles near a basket of tightly rolled wash cloths to create a spa-like environment.
Stash all personal items under the bathroom sink.
