Throughout Home

—De-clutter rooms which may be excessively furnished as they do not photograph well

—Replace any burned out light bulbs in fixtures and lamps

—Eliminate all family/personal photos to encourage the buyers to see the property as theirs

The Exterior

—Remove all vehicles from driveway(s) and do not park directly in front of the house

—Move garbage cans out of sight

—Remove all children's toys, bikes, etc. from the yard or driveway

—If you have a pool, remove the pool sweep, cleaning equipment and any pool toys

—Mow and rake yard

—Sweep driveway, sidewalks and patios

The Living and Family Room

—Remove piles of newspaper and magazines

—Hide all TV/stereo remote controls, and conceal all exposed cables as best as possible

—Remove clutter and personal photos from bookshelves, tables and cabinets

Landscaping and Exterior

—The first thing buyers see when they pull up to your house is the yard. Hiring a landscaper to come and freshen up the exterior is a great way to make a solid first impression.

—Nice, new front door mat and potted plant at front door

—Pressure washed and clean with fresh paint if needed·

— Make roof and gutters free of leaves and debris

Dining Room

—Add a colorful centerpiece such as candles or flowers Conceal any exposed electrical cords

Kitchen

—Clear off countertops and remove any small appliances and clutter (i.e.: toaster, coffee pot, knife block)

—Remove photos, notes and magnets from the refrigerator

—Clean the major appliances (refrigerator, oven, range hood) and wipe down countertops

Bedrooms

—Make all beds and tidy bedrooms

—Clothes should be hung, folded and put away

—Remove items from bedside tables ~ books, magazines, pictures, clock radios, etc.

Bathrooms

—Clear all personal items off countertops (i.e. toothbrushes, soap dishes, tissue, lotion, makeup, etc.)

—Remove shampoo and other products from the shower/tub area

—Close the lid on all toilet seats

—Clean mirrors

—Hang fresh, clean, white linens if available

Painting

—If you’ve lived in your house for any length of time, you know that it ends up looking…well, lived in

—Use touch up paint in areas that have been recently painted, or if it’s been a few years be sure to paint the entire wall(s) to avoid mis-matched paint colors

—It can be really impactful to remove some artwork and mirrors and start fresh with patched nail holes and a new coat of paint