How to Make the First Impression – The Best Impression

Prepare your home to sell. You can help get the results you want by staging your home. Staging is not about redecorating your entire home, but about rearranging what you do have and making a few improvements to appeal to more buyers. If you dont want to do this yourself, Masters Realty can recommend a professional stager. It can pay for itself by helping sell your home more quickly and for a better price. The overall idea is simple, Make your home look neat, clutter-free and spacious.

When you’ve addressed all the items discussed below, you’ve dramatically increased the chances of selling your home.

Download Our Preparing To Sell Checklist

Curb Appeal

  • Mow lawn
  • Trim Shrubs
  • Edge gardens and walkways
  • Weed and mulch
  • Sweep walk-ways and driveway, remove branches, litter or toys
  • Add color and fill in bare spots with plantings
  • Remove mildew or moss from walls or walks with bleach and water or other cleaner
  • Take stains off your driveway with cleanser or kitty litter
  • Stack woodpile neatly
  • Clean and repair patio and deck area
  • Remove any outdoor furniture which is not in good repair
  • Make sure pool or spa sparkles
  • Replace old storm doors
  • Check for flat-fitting roof shingles
  • Repair broken windows and shutters, replace torn screens, make sure frames and seams have solid caulking
  • Hose off exterior wood trim, replace damaged bricks or wood
  • Touch up exterior paint, repair gutters and eaves
  • Clean and remove rust from any window air conditioning units
  • Paint the front door and mailbox
  • Add a new front door mat and consider a seasonal door decoration
  • Shine brass hardware on front door, outside lighting fixtures, etc.
  • Make sure doorbell is in good working order

General Interior Tips

  • Add a fresh coat of paint in light, neutral colors
  • Shampoo carpeting, replace if necessary
  • Clean and wax hardwood floors, refinish if necessary
  • Clean and wash kitchen and bathroom floors
  • Wash all windows, vacuum blinds, was window sills
  • Clean the fireplace
  • Clean out and organize closets, add extra space by packing clothes and other items you won’t need again
  • until after you’ve moved
  • Remove extra furniture, worn rugs, and items you don‟t use; keep papers, toys, etc picked up – especially
  • on stairways
  • Repair problems such as loose door knobs, cracked molding, leaking taps and toilets, squeaky doors,
  • closets or screen doors which are off their tracks
  • Add dishes of potpourri, or a drop of vanilla or bath oil on light bulbs for scent
    Secure jewelry, cash and other valuables

Living Room

  • Make It Cozy

Dining Room

  • Polish the silverware
  • Set the table

Kitchen

  • Clean kitchen regularly while the house is listed

Bathrooms

  • Remove all rust and mildew
  • Replace loose caulking

Master Bedroom

  • Organize furnishings

Garage

  • Clean oily cement floor
  • Provide strong overhead light
  • Tidy storage or work areas

Basement

  • Clean water heater and drain sediment
  • Change furnace filter
  • Make inspection access easy
  • Clean and paint
  • Provide strong overhead light

Attic

  • Tidy up by discarding or pre-packing
  • Make sure energy-saving insulation is apparent
  • Make sure air vent is in working order
  • Provide strong overhead light

When It’s Time To Show

  • Make sure your property profile folder, utility bills, MLS profile, house location survey, etc are available
  • Pick up toys and other clutter, check to make sure beds are made and clothes are put away
  • Give the carpets a quick vacuuming
  • Add some strategically placed fresh flowers
  • Open bathroom windows for fresh air
  • Pop a spicy dessert or just a pan of cinnamon in the oven for aroma
  • Turn off the television and turn on the radio music at a low volume
  • Make a fire in the fireplace if appropriate
  • Put pets in the backyard or arrange for a friend to keep them
  • Make sure pet areas are clean and odor free
  • Make sure al trash is disposed of in neatly covered bins