Preparing a Home to Sell

Prepare!!! Buyers demand perfection in our current market. There is an enormous volume of inventory in the Denver housing market, so it is imperative that your property be the most memorable one for Buyers. The goal is to show your property in the best possible light, with the most usable space, so Buyers can easily envision it as their own. Sellers' inevitably underestimate the time it will take to whip a home into shape, so add a week to your timetable, and plan accordingly with these guidelines.

Cleaning Checklist:

Living Spaces

• Clean interior and exterior windows.
• Professionally clean all carpeting and draperies.
• Make sure hardwood flooring is in pristine condition.
• Replace torn screens or remove them.
• Clean chandeliers, light fixtures and ceiling fans.
• Wipe down plantation shutters and woodblinds.
• Vacuum and dust daily.

Kitchen

• Clean and sanitize the refrigerator.
• De-clutter, rearrange and wipe down kitchen cabinets.
• Keep all stainless appliances wiped down fingerprint free.
• Remove small electrical items such as toasters, mixers, blenders, etc. from counters and the center island.

Baths

• Re-caulk tubs and showers; bleach out grout.
• Polish handles and fixtures; chrome around the shower.
• Wipe down baseboards and keep the floors scrubbed.
• Replace dated cabinet knobs.
• Replace the shower curtain unless it was recently purchased.
• Replace a grungy or stained shower floor.
• Replace toilet lids and seats of necessary.

Bedrooms

• Clean out closets and drawers (yes buyers will look).
• Pack away all clothes and shoes that aren't immediately needed.
• Neatly line up remaining shoes and hang clothes facing the same direction

Exterior

• Sweep entry paths and sidewalks.
• Power wash entry walks and sidewalks.
• Wipe down the exterior front door and repaint if needed.
• Check for evidence of pests inside and out.
• Freshen up exterior trim with paint.
• Trim bushes, weed the garden, and keep the lawn mowed.
• During the winter, keep walk-ways and driveways snow and ice-free.

Repairs

• Fix doors that stick or don't shut properly.
• Make sure heating and cooling elements are in working condition.
• Replace light bulbs inside and on the front porch.
• Use paint to neutralize any off-beat paint colors.
• Patch walls.

De-cluttering Suggestions

• Rent a storage pod or a storage garage.
• Place storage boxes in each room of the house and load them up!
• Remove nick-knacks, photos and books.
• Remove anything that isn't routinely used.
• Remove oversized and excessive furniture that doesn't fit the scale of the room.
• Consolidate all children's toys into their bedrooms. Buyers without children don't want to see toys in the living area.

Staging Suggestions

• If weather permits, keep potted plants near the front door.
• Fresh flowers are a wonderful addition to the kitchen table.
• Arrange furniture to showcase the usable amount of square footage.
• If weather permits, create a living area with potted plants on the patio.
• See my staging page should you need additional assistance!

Safety Checklist

• Remove mail, contracts, diplomas and other personal information that may provide evidence to prospective buyer's that you are in a situation where you will accept considerably less for the property.
• Don't offer any evidence of a divorce. Continue to display clothes and shoes from both partners in the closets. Again, no reason to provide information that can encourage a low-ball offer.
• Remove all items of value, including jewelry and prescription medications.

Pets

• Keep litter boxes cleaned and sanitized.
• Keep dogs bathed and fresh smelling and explore options such as a crate or a pet sitter while the home is being shown.

During a Showing

• Turn lights on throughout the home.
• Play soothing music.
• In the winter have the home warm and in the summer have it cool.
• If possible have fresh cookies baking or an apple cinnamon concoction simmering on the stove. These are inviting smells to a prospective buyer.

Consider a Pre-Inspection and Radon Test. This will further identify what possible defects are present and give you the opportunity to get them fixed prior the buyer's inspection. It also speaks to your attention to detail, ethics, and credibility when the inspection report is made available to potential buyers. Again, it is about standing apart from the competition.