Preparing Your Home Properly prepare your home to attract potential buyers. Cummings & Co. Realtors | www.cummingsrealtors.com
Preparing Your Home
Your home has just one chance to make a great impression with each potential buyer. The following “tricks of the trade” will help you keep track of what needs to be done. The whole idea is to present a clean, spacious, clutter-free home-- the kind of place you’d like to buy. Accomplish a little every day, and before long your home will be ready to make the impression that can make the sale.
Your Home’s Curb Appeal
□ Clean out and organize closets, add
□ Organize closets and pre-pack
□ Remove extra furniture, rugs and items
The Garage/Shed
□ □ □ □ □
Mow Lawn Trim shrubs Edge gardens and walkways Weed and mulch Sweep walkways and driveway, remove branches, litter, and debris
□ Add color and fill in bare spots with plantings
□ Remove mildew or moss from walls or walks with bleach and water or other cleaner
□ Stack woodpile neatly □ Clean and repair patio/deck area □ Remove any outdoor furniture which is not in good repair
□ □ □ □
Make sure pool/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 and 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 new front door mat and consider a seasonal door decoration
□ Shine brass hardware on front
door,outside lighting features, etc.
□ Make sure doorbell is in good working order
General Interior Tips
□ Add a fresh coat of interior paint in light, neutral colors
□ Shampoo carpeting, replace if necessary
extra space by packing up items you won’t need again until after you move you do not use
□ Repair problems such as loose
doorknobs, cracked molding, leaking taps, and toilets, squeaky doors, closet or screen doors which are off their tracks
□ Secure jewelry, cash and other valuables
The Living Room
□ Make it cozy and inviting, discard
chipped or worn furniture and frayed or worn rugs
The Dining Room
□ Polish any furniture □ Set the table for a formal dinner to help viewers imagine entertaining here
The Kitchen
window sills
□ Sell, give away or throw out any unnecessary items
□ Organize and create more floor space
by hanging tools and items on shelves
□ □ □ □ □
Clean water heater and drain sediment Change furnace filter Make inspection access easy Clean/paint concrete floors and walls Provide strong overhead light
The Attic
□ Make sure all appliances are in perfect □ Clean often forgotten spots on top of
□ Make sure vents are in working order □ Provide strong overhead light □ Pre-pack anything you won’t be using
working order
refrigerator and under the sinks
□ Wax or sponge floor to brilliant shine,clean baseboards
□ Unclutter all counter space, remove countertop appliances
□ Organize items inside cabinets, prepack anything you won’t be using before you move
The Bathrooms
unnecessary items is apparent
before you move
When It’s Time to Show
□ Open all draperies and shades, and turn on all lights
□ Pick up toys and other clutters. Check to make sure beds are made and clothes are put away
□ Remove all rust and mildew □ Make sure tile, fixtures, shower doors,
□ Give carpets a quick vacuum □ If weather permits, open windows for
□ Make sure all fixtures are in good repair
□ Use air fresheners as needed □ Put pets crates away or remove them
etc. are clean and shiny and working order
The Bedroom(s)
□ Clean fireplace
The Basement
□ Make sure energy-saving insulation
□ Clean and wash kitchen and bathroom □ Wash all windows, vacuum blinds, wash
unnecessary items
□ Clean floors □ Provide strong overhead light □ Tidy storage and work areas
□ Sell, give away or throw out any
inside and out
□ Replace loose caulking or grout □ Make sure lighting is bright, but soft
floors
□ Sell, give away, or throw out any
□ Make sure appliances are spotless
□ Clean and wax hardwood
floors,refinish if necessary
anything you won’t be using before you move.
□ Organize furnishings to create a
spacious look with well-defined sitting,sleeping and dressing areas
□ Remove all clutter
fresh air
from the home
□ Make sure pet areas are clean and odor-free
□ Make sure all trash is disposed of in neatly covered bins
□ Make sure all dishes are clean and put away
Real Estate Photography Checklist Properly preparing your home for a photography session helps our team capture gorgeous visuals that grab attention. Follow these simple steps to get your property ready for the big day. Living Spaces
Bathrooms
□ Remove all clutter
□ Hide toiletries, soap, and body wash
□ Sweep and vacuum the floors, stairs, and carpets
□ Wipe down countertops
□ Remove throw rugs
□ Remove floor mats
□ Hide children’s toys and cribs
□ Put away scales
□ Hide seasonal items
□ Display clean towels □ Put the toilet cover down
Kitchen & Dining Rooms □ Remove all clutter
Exterior
□ Sweep and vacuum the floors, stairs, and carpets
□ Be sure lawn height is acceptable
□ Remove throw rugs
□ Roll up hoses
□ Hide children’s toys and cribs
□ Set up exterior furniture
□ Hide seasonal items
□ Hide trash cans and garbage □ Remove realtor signage
Bedrooms □ Make all beds
The Details
□ Organize children’s toys
□ Beauty is in the details:
□ Sweep and vacuum all floors
□ Turn on interior lights
□ Hide personal items
□ Open up all blinds
□ Fluff and straighten pillows
□ Hide family photos
□ Relocate laundry baskets
□ Move cars from the driveway
□ Remove side table clutter
□ Remove cars that are parked in front of your home
Items cannot be moved from room to room while the photographer is on-site. The interior and exterior need to be staged and ready prior to our arrival. Please let us know by 5pm the day before your session if your home will not be photo ready.
Need some help getting started? Contact me for trusted vendors:
Handyman
Cleaner
Photography Proponents of powerful imagery, Cummings & Co. invests in visual editors, creative producers, and the industry’s most respected photographers to capture your home’s finest selling points.
Painter
Staging Our team of staging consultants have been instrumental in guiding clients to get their home ready for sale for. Consultants focus on helping our clients make their home’s best features shine so they can sell as quickly as possible for top dollar.
410.823.0033 www.cummingsrealtors.com