This is a great checklist if you’re planning on selling your home. But it’s actually a great list for home maintenance.
If selling, you can significantly influence the selling price of your house by preparing it and your property before putting it on the market! Here are suggestions to improve a buyer’s first impression of your home. By all means, look carefully at walls, floors and ceilings for signs or wear, marks or need for repainting or wallpapering. And, don’t forget to look at trim, including doors and windows.
But selling or staying, still a great list you should review every year!
CURB APPEAL – Property seen from the street:
o Healthy, weed-free, neatly cut, trimmed lawn
o Shrubs trimmed neatly
o Trees, shrubs trimmed to not touch the house
o Sealed black-top driveway
o Weed-free driveway, front walk, shrub areas
o Toys, garden tools, clutter removed from yard
HOUSE EXTERIOR – Front view from the street:
o Recently painted siding
o Recently painted, touched-up trim
o Repair, repaint fences, gates
o Clean, align gutters, downspouts
o Wash, align shutters
o Wash all windows, storms, screens
FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA – Exterior:
o Clean, wash, scrub front steps, porch as needed
o Check front doorbell and bell light
o Replace welcome mat
o Paint or wash storm door, lubricate hinges
o Polish brass door lockset and brass hinges
o Clean and wash front door tread
FRONT DOOR ENTRANCE AREA – Interior:
o Clean interior entry area or foyer of all clutter
o Reduce volume, clutter in the front hall closet
o Clean and polish the front entry floor
o Wash, polish and replace bulbs in light fixture
o Remove fingerprints, scuff marks on trim, walls
o Paint to lighten and refresh entrance area
LIVING-FAMILY-DINING ROOMS:
o Repaint or touch up walls, ceiling and trim
o Repair or replace damaged molding, trim
o Remove electric plates, clean and replace
o Refinish, clean, wax hardwood and vinyl floors
o Shampoo carpeting
BEDROOMS:
o Repaint, repaper, touch up walls, trim, ceiling
o Replace or clean drapes, bedspread, accessories
o Shampoo carpet or clean, polish floors
o Organize, clean out, neaten all closets
o Clear off top surfaces of all bedroom furniture
o Put all clothing away, out-of-sight
BATHS:
o Paint or wallpaper using light colors
o Scrub tile, bleach, repair grout
o Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
o Clean, polish floor as appropriate
o Clean out medicine cabinet, wash inside and out
o Seal around tubs and showers
o Check for evidence of water at toilet base
o Replace old toilet seats
o Replace shower window curtains
o Buy a set of new, color coordinated bath linens
KITCHEN:
o Paint walls, ceiling, trim white or light color, or
o Wallpaper with small pattern and light colors
o Remove wax, scrub, re-polish floors
o Wash, wipe down, wax cabinets/appliances
o Thoroughly clean range, ovens
o Clean out refrigerator and wash interior
o Empty dishwasher, clean around controls
o Check operation of all appliances
o Neatly arrange and clean food storage areas
o Reorganize and clean out cabinets and drawers
o Neatly arrange and display dishes in cabinets
o Clear all clutter from countertops
o Check to see that drawers/doors open easily
o Wash or replace curtains
o Clean or put away pet feeding, watering dishes
LAUNDRY:
o Check operation of appliances and clean them
o Clean, organize laundry area, remove clothes
o Provide adequate (bright) light to area
GENERAL:
o Remove clutter, papers, unnecessary items
o Replace burned-out bulbs throughout the house
o Remove cobwebs from ceilings, corners
o Remove paint splash on tile, floor, cabinets
o Wash, polish all door hardware, handrails
o Reorganize, clean out all closets
o Replace switches, outlets that don’t work
o Add colorful plants, flowers to several rooms
o Replace or rejuvenate pillows, accessories
o Clean out, sweep, organize garage
o Organize, make neat basement and attic storage
Remember that I’m Certified in Home Staging! If you need help or have any questions, please call me! Visit my website at http://www.NormaSellsNJHomes.com