Get Ready...
Selling a home can seem like an overwhelming task. Using this ultimate guide and itemized checklist will keep you on track and help you tackle one room at a time, simplifying your workload. Prioritizing this list will help you get your home on the market faster than your neighbors. Cleaning, packing up & de-cluttering should be your top priority as you work through the checklist. Your goal is to get the most money out of your home sale, in the least amount of time, with minimal effort.
1. Clear & Clean Kitchen Counters & Sink
When the kitchen counters are completely cleared off, it makes the kitchen look more prominent, and buyers can imagine how they might use the space. Coffee makers, mixers, and decorations only distract buyers and often make the kitchen feel cluttered.
Remove everything but perhaps a few decorative items from the countertops and clean all surface areas, including the appliances, kitchen sink, and backsplash.
2. Clear & Clean Bathroom Sinks, Tubs, and Showers
Place all of the shampoo bottles, soaps, shaving razors, and other items into a bin that can fit underneath the bathroom sink. This step will help your bathroom look bigger.
Take all items off of the bathroom counter. You want the bathrooms to appear vacant. Clean, neatly folded towels on towel racks are acceptable.
3. Replace Burned Out Light Bulbs
This step is one of the most overlooked items on the list. Be sure to check all of the ceiling lights, as well as extra lamps and exterior lights, to make sure that they all work.
If there are dark areas in the homes, such as a basement, add a few extra lamps to brighten them up. Floor lamps that provide up-lighting are great! The more light, the better!
4. Remove Unnecessary Furniture & Decorations
This is probably the most difficult request for sellers, but it’s one of the most important items on the list. Removing and storing excess or large bulky furniture can be challenging, but it opens up the floor space and makes the home look much more extensive.
It’s wise to consult a professional stager to determine which items should stay or go. This is truly one of those situations where “less is more.”
5. Remove Floor Mats and Runners
Floor mats and runners are great at protecting your floors, but they can make the overall floor space look smaller, making the room look smaller. We recommend getting rid of as many floor mats as possible. Photographers use a wide-angle lens that makes rooms look larger. Floor mats tend to get skewed with this effect.
Make sure to roll up and remove all of the floor mats in the bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry areas. If you have any rugs, try taking a picture and then roll them up and take another. Use a neutral eye to see if it makes the room look less cluttered and larger. Rugs also make buyers wonder what’s under them.
6. Clear Appliance Surfaces of Magnets and Clutter
It’s common to keep magnets, notes, reminders, and other personal information on the refrigerator. This kind of clutter can be distracting for buyers, so de-clutter these areas.
We ask our sellers to remove all magnets, calendars, and personal items from the refrigerator. It will not only make your home appear tidier, but it also keeps your personal info safe from the general public.
7. Make All of the Beds
This is an obvious one that surprisingly gets overlooked often, especially in the secondary bedrooms. Be sure to make and decorate all the beds with matching sheets, blankets, and pillows. Use bedding that covers the entire bed and fits the mattress correctly.
Use decorative pillows to brighten up the bed, if possible. If a room is clean, and the bed isn’t made right, it makes the whole room seem off.
8. Remove All Personal Photos and Items
It’s hard for buyers to visualize themselves in your house if your personal items are everywhere. Buyers want to believe that the home was made especially for them.
Since you want your buyers to focus on the house and not on you, you’ll need to remove all private photos and articles from the entire home—including patios, porches, and garages.
9. Put All Shoes & Jackets in Closets
When buyers see shoes and jackets on coat racks and entryway floors, they subconsciously assume that the home lacks storage space. This perception is easily fixed by storing these items away.
It’s best to remove all jackets and shoes from anywhere they can be seen throughout the house. Store away any loose items to remove all distractions.
10. Clear All Night Stands and Dressers
Nightstands tend to accumulate items naturally. Half-read books, prescription bottles, tissues, and electronic devices will quickly clutter these areas.
Remove everything but a lamp and one decorative thing, such as a small floral arrangement or decorative book, to make the space look clean and presentable. Think of a freshly cleaned hotel room.
11. Remove ALL Pet Items
Not everyone has pets. In fact, some people are severely allergic to animals. It’s essential to make sure that your house shows no signs of pets, especially pet smells. Please spend some time getting this part right. It is one of the most significant factors in price reductions and negative feedback from home buyers.
Consider that you could be “nose blind” to the smell, as you live in your home every day. Ask a neutral party for their honest opinion before listing.
12. Tidy Up the Yard & Landscaping
First impressions are crucial, so make sure that the front yard is cleaned up. All of the landscaping needs to be trimmed back and tidy.
The first picture that people will see of your home will be the outside front yard shot. This photo needs to be presented in its very best condition to grab the buyer’s attention immediately.
13. Sweep up the Porch/Patio/Deck
This step is imperative in the Fall when leaves accumulate daily. Ensure that the entire front and back porches are swept clean, and remove any items you can live without.
If possible, stage these areas with flowers and decorative items to create a relaxing space that invites homebuyers in. Creating an inviting entrance conveys pride-of-ownership to homebuyers.
Photography Checklist
Here are a few more items of note before your photographer is set to arrive. Do as much of this as possible to make the most of their time. You want their attention to be focused on a bright and clean home, not on the work it takes to get the house to that point. They’re often on a tight schedule, and time spent doing your job is time they can’t spend doing theirs.
To get the most out of your professional real estate photographer, follow the real estate photography pre-shoot checklist below. It will help ensure that your house is photo-ready and welcoming before you list your home for sale. Use these tips to prepare your home.
-
Turn On All Lights Throughout The Entire House. Check out some Living Room Lighting Tricks.
- Open all the blinds/Curtains
- Turn OFF all ceiling fans, computers and TV screens
- Make all of the beds. Use decorative pillows to brighten up the bed, if possible. If a room is clean, and the bed isn’t made right, it makes the whole room seem off.
-
Clear All Cars from Road & Driveway
-
Hide All Garbage Cans & Lawn Equipment
-
Remove Outdoor Cooker Covers
-
Open Up Patio Umbrellas if it’s not too windy
Seems overwhelming?
Your home’s marketing is the most important piece of the selling puzzle. It begins with your preparation, paired with a great photographer/videographer. Having the items on this checklist completed will ensure that your home will be ready before the photographer arrives. This move will enable you to get the most out of their time and talent.
You’ve likely done a lot of work to get your home ready to sell. Don’t fizzle out at the end when these details matter the most! Remember, the goal is to present your home in its best light and make it appealing to as many buyers as possible. Consider working with a real estate agent to guide you through the selling process and offer valuable insights specific to your local market. I have a long list of trusted vendors to help with items on the list that either you don’t want to do, or needs a professionals touch. Call, text or email and I will help you get your home sold for the most money, fast.
