Tips for preparing your home for the market:
- Exterior Curb Appeal. Clean up your yard. Mow, trim bushes, plant flowers, freshen bark dust, tend to deferred maintenance including exterior paint - clean gutters, repair any missing shingles - remove moss buildup, replace any burnt out light bulbs. First impressions are important.
- Interior. Always have your home ready to show. No dirty dishes, make your bed, run the vacuum across the floor, paint over any bold colors (neutral is best), replace light bulbs, tend to any deferred maintenance including paint - trim - damage - carpet stains and don't leave your dirty laundry laying around.
- Pets. Lock your pets up in a kennel or take them with you. Bath them regularly, tend to any flee problems, repair any damage in the yard from pets and clean up yard mines.
- Odors. DO NOT MASK ODORS that will still be there when you sell your home. Masking odors is a BIG no-no. Candles, air fresheners, etc are nice but only if you're not covering a smell that won't go away. Shampoo carpets, as noted above bath your pets, take out your trash, replace soiled carpets if needed, clean your furniture, wash drapes, etc.
- Repairs. If you know of any repairs needed, FIX THEM because they will show up in the home inspection. If you want top dollar your home needs to be in top dollar condition, buyers will use the inspection to negotiate a lower price.
- Showings. If you've done the above this will be a breeze. Keep your counters cleared, replace all burnt out light bulbs, open all drapes and blinds, put pets in kennel or take with you, no dirty dishes, no laundry on the floor, run vacuum across the floor, put on soft music, make sure the temperature in the home is comfortable, turn on lights and most important LEAVE. Buyers feel more comfortable looking and will likely stay longer if the seller is gone. Let the agent do their job and make the buyer feel comfortable to look around your home.
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