House Dressing
Getting Ready To Show
Often a few small changes will enhance a home's "showability".
Sellers sometimes don't realize when they have "too much of a good
thing" showing. Setting your home to show it's best requires a room by
room look.
The first thing a Buyer's eye catches should be positive. Rooms need
to feel open and airy. You may have collected lots of furniture, "comfy"
afghans and normally keep a pile of books and magazines out, but this may
distort the simplicity of the room's greatest assets.
Curb Appeal
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Cut lawn (or shovel snow, as needed)
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Trim shrubs, weed and edge beds
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Pick up any litter, toys, hoses, etc
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Clean and repair gutters and eaves
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Touch up exterior paint, including mailbox
and lamppost
The First Impression
General Maintenance
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Oil squeaky doors
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Tighten doorknobs
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Replace burned out lights
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Clean and repair windows
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Touch up chipped and worn paint
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Repair any cracks or holes in drywall
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Repair leaking taps or toilets
The Spacious look
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Clear hallways and staircases
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Store excess furniture and breakable
knick-knacks
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Clear counters and stove
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Straighten closets, cupboards;
remove any extra items
Clean All over
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Shampoo carpets
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Clean washer, dryer and set tub
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Clean furnace and dust top of water heater
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Clean refrigerator and stove
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Clean and freshen all bathrooms and hang new
towels
Atmosphere
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Turn on all lights (even in day time)
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Be absent during all showings
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Bake cookies or bread, if possible
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Light fireplace (in season, of course)
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Open drapes in daytime
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Play quiet background music; turn off TV
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Keep pets outside
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