Preparing Your Home to Sell - Tips for Making a Good First Impression

There is a lot that goes into getting your home ready to sell. If you are feeling overwhelmed and wondering where to start this is the place for you! In today's blog post we divided the home into each room and a checklist for what to do in each area of your home. First impressions are importation to potential buyers. Cleaning your home, making necessary repairs, and creating a welcoming space will bring top dollar and help your home sell faster. It’s hard work, but we promise it will be worth it in the end! Here are some tips when it comes to preparing the inside and outside of your home for buyers! Pro Tip from our own Bethany Benner is, "If you know moving is in your future then start packing now. There is no point in delaying the packing/cleaning process."

Inside Your Home

• Kitchen: This is often the dirtiest room in your home. Wipe down all handles, counters, and most commonly used items from your family. Cleaning the stove (inside & outside), microwave, appliances and stick is what people will notice the most. Replace any lights or items that are no longer working and touch up and needed painted areas.
• Counters and Cabinets: Store infrequently used countertop appliances to avoid making your counters look overcrowded. Less it truly more. Clean out cabinets and discard any old/unused items. Make sure counters are wiped down and free of food debris and stains. 
• Bathrooms: Like a dirty kitchen, a dirty bathroom can ‘unsell’ a house. Pay special attention to the vanity, sink, faucet hardware, and mirror, but don’t forget to scrub away soap residue in the shower. Change or clean the shower curtain, and remove dirt or dust from sliding shower door tracks and grout.  
• Closets and Storage Areas: Remove items you are no longer using. Sweep or vacuum floors. Most buyers will look inside these spaces. When walking through a home buyer look in closet areas so it is important to have these clean and organized.
• Walls: Look for any areas on wall that might need patched or repainted. Make sure wallpaper is adhered smoothly. Secure loose handrails on stairways. Clean or paint all air-vent covers. 
• Doors: Repair or replace doors with holes. Make sure all doors open and close freely, tighten the hardware, especially doorknobs. Oil any squeaky doors.  
• Floors: Repair or replace missing or damaged pieces of tile or carpet. Prioritize repairing loose carpeting or tread on stairways.  
• Carpet: Steam clean soiled carpets. If you have pets, be sure to clean the carpet several weeks before putting your home on the market to be sure odors have been eliminated.  
• Windows: Clean the inside and outside of your windows, including the window tracks. Repair or replace torn or bent screens. If you have curtains, be sure curtain rods are firmly attached and in working condition. 
• Lights: Make sure every light socket in and around your home has a good bulb with adequate wattage. Remove dust and dirt from light fixtures. 
• Switches and Fixtures: Repair or replace wall switches, outlets, and light fixtures that don’t work.  
• Plumbing: Fix leaky or noisy toilets and dripping faucets. Replace, patch, or re-enamel badly chipped or stained sinks and tubs. 

Tip: If you are considering a home remodeling project, consult with your Oakridge agent first. We can help you prioritize which updates will bring the most value to the sale of your home.

Outside Your Home

• Front Entry: Pay special attention to this area. Make sure woodwork is freshly and neatly painted, including the door if necessary. Replace worn or broken doorbell plates and buttons, and polish door brass. Add a new or clean doormat.  
• Paint or Clean Siding: Power wash vinyl siding to remove dirt, moss, and mildew. For wood siding, scrape or water-blast any blistered or peeling paint before repainting. Repair gutters and downspouts. 
• Yard: Mow and trim the lawn. Weed flower beds and remove or replace dead plants or trees. Water plants regularly during the growing season. 
• Driveway and Garage/Carport: Clean up grease or oil spots and remove dirt. Make sure the garage door is in good working order. Avoid parking cars in the street or in the driveway if possible.  
• Fence: Replace missing stakes or slats. Paint or stain the fence if needed.  
• Roof: Replace any missing shingles. Trim back any tree branches bearing on the roof.  
• Air Conditioner: Paint or replace rusted exposed metal. Correct improper draining.  
• Patio: Clean patio furniture and remove items not in use. 

Check out our other blog posts below for additional selling education!