o
New
Bedspread.
o
Make
the Beds Everyday.
o
Keep
Headboards Clear and Free from Clutter.
o
Be
Sure Children’s Toys are Put Away.
o
Remove any Bulky Furniture. Make Rooms Appear
Large.
o
Remove any Dark or Outdated wallpaper. Paint the
Walls with a Light, Neutral Color.
o
Clean
Out Closets -- Make Them Appear as if There is
Plenty of Room to Spare.
o
Install Closet Organizer and Keep Clothing Neat.
o
Organize Shoes on Shoe Racks.
o
Don’t
Store Valuables in Sight -- Place Jewelry in Drawers
or Store Away from the Home.
Garage/Basement
o
Remove
Stains from Garage Floor.
o
Make
Basement Look Functional and Well Organized.
o
Clean
Basement Windows.
o
Wipe Down
the Furnace and Water Heater with a Damp Sponge.
Keep Utility Room Uncluttered.
o
Move any
Extra Boxes and Unnecessary Items to Your Storage
Unit.
o
Spray with
Simple Solution to Give a Fresh Smell.
Maximize Your Space
o
Paint Rooms
Light Neutral Color.
o
Remove
Drapes (Leave Mini-blinds).
o
Remove
Unnecessary Pieces of Furniture.
o
Clean Out
Coat Closet - Put Items in Storage Unit.
o
Clean Out
Garage.
o
Clean Out
Attic.
o
Rent a
Storage Unit for Extra Items or/and Have a Moving
Sale.
o
Remove Small
Pictures From the Walls.
o
Remove Items
From Countertops.
o
Put in
Higher Wattage Light bulbs.
o
Remove Some
Toys to Storage Unit.
o
Take Extra
Leaf Out of Dining Room Table.
o
Check Walk
Flow to Make Sure Potential Buyers Don’t Have to
Walk Around Furniture.
Remember, your
home will be compared to Model Homes that are vacant
and always clean and open!
Kitchen
o
Clean the
Kitchen From Top to Bottom.
o
Clean the
Oven.
o
Clean the
Refrigerator.
o
Remove all
Refrigerator Magnets and Items from the Front of the
Refrigerator.
o
Put Away
Most Small Appliances.
o
Put Away
Items off Countertops.
o
Clean the
Inside of the Dishwasher -- Try Running it With
the Soap Dishes Filled with Powdered Instant
Lemonade (like Countrytime). The Citric Acid Works
Wonders!
o
Clean Out
Drawers to Eliminate Fears of Too Little Space.
o
Paint the
Kitchen a Neutral Color.
o
Light Wood
is Best for Kitchen Cabinets - Paint or Update.
o
Change
Cabinet Hardware or Clean Very Well.
o
Remove Pet
Dishes, Toys and Litter Boxes From Kitchen.
o
Have
Appliances Refinished (Harvest Gold, Brown, and
Avocado Green are Currently Unpopular Colors. Paint
with White or Ivory).
o
Add
Under-Cabinet Lights.
o
Remove
Window Treatments in Kitchen. Make it sunny!
If the Laundry Room is off the Kitchen, Make Sure
it’s Uncluttered, Neat and Clean.
Bathrooms
o
Clean
Ceramic Tile and Grout.
o
Repair Loose
or Cracked Tiles.
o
Downplay
Dated Ceramic Tile Colors with White Towels and
Window Treatments.
o
Buy a New
Shower Curtain -- Avoid Patterns.
o
Shine Chrome
Fixtures -- Stiff Brush with White Vinegar Works
Great.
o
Remove
Stains from Sink. Replace Rusted Sinks.
o
Repair Leaky
Faucets.
o
Remove
Personal Toiletries on Display.
o
Glue Down
Wallpaper Where it’s Loose or Curling.
o
Use Fancy
Basket for Books and Magazines.
o
Replace
Toilet Seat(s).
o
Repair or
Replace Exhaust Fan.
o
Install GFCI Outlet.
Dining Room
o
Put New
WHITE Tablecloth on the Table.
o
Use a
Centerpiece on the Table.
o
Place
Fresh-Cut Flowers in a Vase on the Table
o
Light, then
Blow Out Candles.
o
Clean
Chandelier Bulbs and Globe (Dust Regularly). Globes
May be Run Through the Dishwasher.
o
Remove Valuables From Sight.
Landscaping
o
Trim all
Hedges and Shrubs. Strive for Neat Appearance.
o
Add Mulch to
Flowerbeds and Shrubs.
o
Repair
Fence.
o
Plant
Flowers or Add Pots/Containers of Bright Flowers.
o
Clean Pool
as Needed.
o
Provide a
Fact Sheet on Swimming Pool -- Show the Cost and
Time Involved in Upkeep. Many People Worry that a
Pool is Too Expensive and Time Consuming.
Remove:
o
Old Rusted
Swing Set
o
Old Rusted
Basketball Goals
o
Old Rusted
Lawn Furniture
o
Old Rusted
Grill
o
Dead Trees
or Shrubs
o
Old Flowers
from Past Season
o
Leaves, Dead
Branches, Weeds and Debris
o
Garbage Cans
-- Store Neatly in the Garage.
Pets
o
It’s
Recommended that Pets be Kenneled During the Time
Your Home is on the Market. If that isn’t possible,
please let your Realtor® know the names
and location (backyard, dog run, etc.) of the pets.
If you have a pet you don’t want let out of the home
(the cat?), please be sure to let your Realtor® know so he
can alert other agents to be careful!
o
See note
under Entrance to Home for dealing with pet
odors (Simple Solution). A neutral smell
is important.
General Hints and Tips
o
Please don’t
be home for Showings. Most buyers will ask you
“harmless” questions that may significantly decrease
your negotiating power. The Buyer will spend more
time looking if the Seller is not there. Go to the
neighbors. Walk the dog. Go to another part of the
home while the prospective buyers are in another
section of the home. The goal is to have the
potential Buyer think of the home as theirs.
o
Open all
curtains, drapes and blinds during the day.
o
For evening
Showings, turn on all the lights before you
leave.
o
If anything
is broken, you must disclose the issue. Even easier
... have it fixed!
o
Sprinkle a
few drops of vanilla on a warm stove
burner to create a pleasing smell in the home.
Remember to turn the burner off! Alternatively, you
can warm a pan of water with a few drops of vanilla
in the oven.
o
Bake bread
or cookies to fill the house with a pleasant smell.
(Do you have my yummy recipe for Apple Pie in a
Bag?)
o
Run the
vacuum cleaner every morning before you leave the
house.
o
After your
shower, dry the stall and tub with a towel.
o
Please
refrain from smoking in the home. Remove all
ashtrays. Remove strong cooking odors. See note
under Entrance to Home for help with odors
(Simple Solution). A neutral smell is
important.
o
Please keep
the interior and exterior brochure boxes filled with
the supply your Realtor® will give you.
Let your Realtor® know if you run low on
brochures or business cards.
o
Let your
Realtor® know if any doors are left unlocked or
windows are left open by agents showing the home.
o
Once in a
great while you may meet an real estate agent you
don’t feel comfortable with. Once that agent’s
showing is over, your Realtor® will be happy to come
to your home and change the combination on the
lockbox. We want you to feel comfortable!
Barry J. Preusz
Realtor®
| Residential Specialist
7090 South Union Park Center, Ste 650
Midvale, Utah 84047
Office: (801) 253-6771
Click Here to Contact Us
