GIVE IT CURB APPEAL

Getting top dollar for your house requires seeing your house through the eyes of a prospective buyer. It’s the little things you do that enhance the value to the buyer. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be done to create that first impression that says I’m loved and cared for.

EXTERIOR

□ Pressure wash to brighten color and remove mildew and dirt build-up.
□ Paint all faded siding, window trim, and shutters.
□ If paint color does not conform to neighborhood norm- repaint in appropriate color.
□ Repair (fill nail pops) or replace and repaint all damaged, delaminated siding.
□ Paint the front door in order to brighten appearance upon approach.
□ Repair or replace all rotten or damaged wood around window sills and doors.
□ Check all gutters and downspouts—clean and replace if necessary.
□ Replace all broken, cracked window panes and torn screens.
□ Wash the windows to remove dirt, cobwebs and insect nest.
□ Check mailbox and replace if broken or dilapidated.
□ Replace exterior light fixture if outdated or damaged.

SIDEWALKS/DRIVEWAYS
□ Repair all cracks in walkways and driveways (pour dry repair mix into cracks, sweep away excess,
sprinkle liberally with water.)
□ Pressure wash sidewalks and driveways to remove built-up dirt stains and mildew.
□ Edge and trim the lawn next to sidewalks and driveways.

LAWNS
□ Keep lawn freshly mowed and trimmed. In the fall of year, clear lawn of fallen leaves weekly.
□ Remove toys, bicycles, wagons, garden hoses from lawn.
□ Re-seed or sod bare unsightly areas in lawn.
□ Keep lawn edged next to curb areas.

SHRUBBERY
□ Remove or replace any dead shrubs, hedges, and trees.
□ Trim all shrubs and scraggly bushes. Keep shrubbery below level of window to avoid blocking light.
□ Skirt any trees that block view of house.
□ Add color and charm with seasonal flowers in pots or along beds.

DECKS/PATIOS
□ Pressure wash decks and patios.
□ Replace rotten wood, repair loose rails, reseal deck if necessary.
□ Edge the lawn along patio.

GIVE IT “EYE” APPEAL

MAKE THE INSIDE SPARKLE

Curb Appeal will get the buyer to come in, but it’s what on the inside that makes the sale. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be cleaned, scrubbed and polished so that the buyer sees your house in its best light.

KITCHEN
No room in the house has greater impact on the buyer than the kitchen. It should sparkle and gleam.
□ Oven, cook tops and ventilating hood should be spotlessly cleaned, inside and out.
□ Replace any badly worn flooring.
□ Scour walls, floors, sinks and fixtures until they shine.
□ Clean and polish cabinets and drawer fronts. Consider professionally painting dull, dark cabinets.
□ Remove toasters, coffee makers, can openers and other clutter from counter tops to make counter
space and room look larger.
□ Remove all photos and magnets from refrigerator front.
□ Wash the windows.
□ Remove any wallpaper of unique color and design and replace or paint with neutrals that will appeal
to more buyers.
□ Repair any dripping faucets and slow running drains.
□ Replace any small ineffective light fixtures. Poor lighting makes the kitchen gloomy and uninviting.

BATHROOM
Next to the kitchen, it’s the second most important room in the house. The condition of the bathroom(s) speaks volumes to the buyer about the overall condition of the house.
□ Scour tile walls, floors, bathtubs, sinks, toilets and shower stalls until they shine. Remember to wipe
down tiles, sinks and shower doors daily.
□ Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, tiles, bathtubs, and sinks.
□ Replace old caulking around bathtubs and faucets. Replace any missing grout between tiles and
clean thoroughly to remove dirt stains and mildew.
□ Keep all mirrors shinning.
□ If bathtub drains too slowly, unclog.
□ Clean and polish all cabinet and drawer fronts.

FIREPLACES
□ Remove any old ashes.
□ Polish fireplace tools, screens and doors. Stack logs neatly.

LIVING AREAS
□ Wash interior windows. Make sure windows open and close properly.
□ Have walls in top condition. Repair hairline cracks and nail pops. If any bookcases, drapery rods,
window treatments, or fixtures are going with you, remove and repair walls before placing the
house on the market.

□ Check ceiling for leak stains. Repair leak, repair and repaint ceiling.
□ Replace all burned out light bulbs.
□ Make sure all light switches work.
□ Make certain all sliding doors are in tracts. Rub tracts with paraffin or candle wax for easier
movement.
□ Clean all carpets. Replace carpet if heavily worn, pet stained or damaged or if color unusually bold.
□ If you smoke or have pets, seek out professional products and spray daily.
□ Also clean air ducts if you are a heavy smoker to help remove odors.
□ Repaint walls if they are a unique or bold color or if they are dingy and drab. Use easy to work with
neutral colors that most buyers can live with.
□ Clean switch plates, wall plates.
□ Make sure all flooring is clean and in good repair.

BASEMENT, ATTIC, GARAGE
□ Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move.
□ Box up everything you won’t need until you are settled in your new house. Consider renting a small
storage space to store the items until time to move, especially if doing so will make you basement or
garage look larger and less cluttered--or you attic storage look larger.
□ Make sure there is plenty of light on the stairs to the basement.
□ If your basement is dark and gloomy, paint the ceilings and walls a light color and put the highest
wattage bulbs you can safely use in all fixtures.
□ Repair cracks in the basement floor with concrete patch mix.
□ Vacuum garage floor and clean oil spills.
□ Stack items neatly so basement will look larger, but keep boxes far enough away from basement
walls for viewing.
Getting your house ready to put on the market takes time—about 2-3 weeks. If, after reading this, you feel you lack both the time and desire to do all of the prevention work yourself, hire competent people to help you. You can get a list of people who specialize in these areas from your real estate consultant. But whichever way you choose, if you want top dollar, you must put your house in top condition!

GIVE IT “BUY” APPEAL

STAGE IT

Staging your house finishes what you started with the Three Cs (clean up, clear out, cosmetic improvement). Staging is what helps a buyer visualize living here.

LIGHT
Bright, well lit houses seem more cheerful, inviting and spacious.
□ Keep draperies and blinds open to let in light.
□ Turn on all lamps in every room (even during the day) to brighten them.
□ Turn on all hallway and stairwell lights. Turn on lights in closets, over counter tops and cook tops.
□ At night, turn on porch lights and all outdoor lights and floodlights.
□ Install “stick lights” under cabinets to increase light over counter tops.

KITCHEN/DINING AREA
□ Add bowls of fresh fruit to counter tops and fresh flowers to table.
□ Create fragrant aromas: fresh baked cookies, brewed coffee, or a food scented jar candle from your
local candle shop.
□ Set the table with attractive, color coordinated place mats, napkins, and china.

BATHROOMS
□ Bathrooms should sparkle- mirrors, tiles, sinks, faucets, toilets and floors.
□ Display fresh, color coordinated towels and shower curtains.
□ Remove all everyday toiletries from counter tops.
□ Place healthy, green plants on all counter tops.
□ Place new soap in all soap dishes.
□ Place fragrant, evergreen scented air freshener in all bathrooms.

FIREPLACE
□ Spotlight the fireplace. Polish all accessories until the gleam!
□ In summer, nestle fresh, fragrant pine boughs (in water) in fireplace.
□ In winter, stack logs neatly in fireplace or, if at home, have a fire in the fireplace.

COLLECTIONS
□ Pack away all photos, trophies, and collections, so buyer can focus on the house, not collections.

FURNITURE
□ Remove excess furniture to give rooms a larger feel.
□ Rearrange the furniture to give warm, intimate feel to room.

FLOWERS/PLANTS/MUSIC
□ Spot vases of colorful fresh flowers from you super market throughout the house.
□ Place healthy green plants on tables throughout the house to soften and refresh.
□ Soft background music soothes. No television!