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15 Easy Ways to Prep the House for a Sale
By FrontDoor.com | Published: 11/01/2007
Spruce up the outside of your home and make it inviting to buyers.
Sabrina Soto, Get It Sold host and home-staging expert, shares her tips on what to do before putting a house on the market. Print out this handy checklist.
- Use "home wash" (a hose attachment that is available at any home improvement store) to clean the outside of the house.
- Clean rain gutters as well as outside windows and screens.
- Make sure the front door is inviting. Paint it if needed. Also, replace any outdated outdoor lighting fixtures.
- Buy new house numbers if the old ones are dated or faded. Be sure buyers can see the new ones from the curb.
- Buy a new Welcome mat.
- Eliminate half of your belongings - clutter can cost in a sale. Rent a storage unit or portable pod for extraneous pieces of furniture or knickknacks. Another idea is to ask a friend if you can borrow some space in his or her garage.
- Organize all closets and drawers. Buyers might look there.
- Make any necessary repairs so that buyers don't have to add that to their list of expenses.
- Rearrange furniture to make rooms appear as large as possible.
- Make every surface shine, from ceiling fans to baseboards. Don't forget interior windows, mirrors, and floors.
- Scrub every inch of the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Depersonalize each room, removing photo frames and posters or artwork.
- Buy new linens and pillows if necessary. Be certain they are a neutral color.
- Buy air neutralizer and spray it often.
- Let go emotionally of your home, and get ready for an offer!
GO TO: Part 1: Evaluate Your Situation
GO TO: Part 2: Plan Your Selling Strategy
GO TO: Part 3: Stage and Show the Home
GO TO: Part 4: Close the Deal
GO TO: Home Seller's Guide
More on FrontDoor:
- Selling Smart: How to Sell Your House in a Buyer's Market
- Selling Dos and Don'ts
- FrontDoor's Guide to Pricing Your Home
- Designed to Sell Room by Room Makeovers
- Set the Stage for a Quick House Sale
- Slide Show: 10 Ways to Prep Your Home for Sale
Keywords: home, real estate, sale, sell, home improvement, pre-sale prepration, house value, home value, home worth, property value, neighborhood, community
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