5 Steps to Prepare for the Market

De-personalize: Your home is about to become a marketable product which must appeal to a broad range of buyers. No longer your personal haven, now is the time to detach & dream of your future home. Pack up/remove personal photos, portraits & accolades.

Deep Clean: Make a great impression with a sparkling exterior front-entry by cleaning glass, removing dirt & cobwebs. Next, attend to interior rooms. Clean all baseboards, ceiling fans, wall switches & outlets, floor tile grout, wood floors, carpets, appliances, bathroom sinks/tubs/tiles commodes. Touch every surface! Eliminate pet & food odors, but avoid overly-perfumed air fresheners. Remember the back entry doors too, clean glass & door frames.

Organize:

Closets: Place items by type & size on matching hangers - floors 100% clear, if possible.

Pantry: Organize by type & size, using baskets & bins for symmetry and uniformity.

Entry Closet: Keep 5 nice coats on matching hangers - floors 100% clear, if possible.

Linen Closets: Place all linens neatly stacked with the folds facing the same way.

Your new mantra is “Less is More.”

Arrange & Remove: Remove art from narrow spaces. Clear bathroom countertops & floors 100%. Remove clutter from desk tops, bookshelves, refrigerator & counters. Set out a Kitchen Aid mixer (if owned,) with nice cookbook, & small green plant. Pack-up sports affiliations, religious artifacts, collections, & yard art. Remove & place front window screens into garage for next owner.

Repair & Refresh: Patch nail holes, touch-up scuffs, or if Realtor recommends, update dark wall colors with a light, neutral paint shade such as Sherwin Williams Shoji White SW7042. Make sure heating & AC are working properly. Oil squeaky doors & treat faded or cracked wood on doors with Murphy’s Oil Soap to clean and follow with Olde English polish in the door color. Replace any burned-out light bulbs with like wattage & kelvins.