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How To Prepare Your Home For Showing
OUTSIDE: Trim all shrubs.
Pull all weeds. Flowers planted. Leaves raked. Water lawn
to keep green. Pick up and discard or store all implements,
materials and debris that are not part of the lawn decor.
All windows washed. Garage should be swept, neat and tidy.
During the winter, all walks and drives should be shoveled
and salted.
LIGHTING: Open all shades
and draperies during the daylight hours. Replace all burned
out light bulbs with the maximum light producing bulbs.
Turn on all lights throughout the house and basement prior
to showing the house.
STORAGE: All clothing, shoes,
hats, accessories, tools, papers, magazines, books and personal
items not contributing to the decor of the room should be
stored in closets or dressers. All closets should be tidy,
neat and clean. Basement storage areas should be neatly
arranged. Kitchen counters should be clean and free of any
articles not contributing to the decor of the room. All
magazines, books, ashtrays, food, bottles, containers, boxes,
cans, toys, hobby accessories, tools, dishes, cookware,
etc. should be stored in the proper cupboards or closets
or storage areas.
CLOSETS: The interiors of
all closets should present an organized, tidy and uncluttered
appearance. All unneeded or unused items should be discarded.
Display your storage and utility space by removing all unnecessary
accumulations in attic, stairways, basement, closets and
garage.
BASEMENT: Should be neat,
clean, dry and tidy. All materials and tools should be stored
on shelves or in cabinets. Discard, as much unneeded material
as possible prior to showing the house to prospective purchasers.
WINDOWS: All windows should
be spotlessly clean inside and out. All windowsills, as
well as any space between the window and storm window should
be spotlessly clean and free of any flaking or loose paint.
All windows should be in good repair with no cracks. Screens
should be clean and in good condition, free of rust and
holes. Any paint on glass should be removed with a razor
blade prior to cleaning.
FIXTURES: All bathroom and
kitchen fixtures and counters should be sparkling clean.
Polish chrome faucets and handles in the tub and sinks.
All sinks, tubs, toilets and counters should be clean.
FLOORS: All flooring should
be clean and waxed if necessary. All carpeting should be
very clean regardless of its age. If the carpeting has not
been steam cleaned for more than two years, now is the time
to do it. Basement floors should be swept and mopped.
DOORS: All doors should
be free of scotch tape, posters, decals, or stickers. All
door handles should be clean and in good repair.
CERAMIC TILE: All joints
between tiles should be clean and white. Use DAP bathroom
tile sealer to reseal the joint between bathtub and wall
and floor.
WALLS: All walls should
be clean and free of gouges, scratches, smudges, scotch
tape, posters, thumbtacks, etc. Walls should only have decorative
items. Posters and paper pictures taped to walls should
be removed and all evidence of the tape markings removed.
ODOR: Nothing smells better
than fresh air. On warm days, have your windows open and
shades up. Make your home feel and smell bright, fresh and
clean and you will have a faster sale. KEY POINT: Make very
sure that there are absolutely no pet odors
Copyright © 2001 By Referral Only, Inc.
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