 | Wash all windows inside and
out. Curtains and drapes should be fresh and attractive.
|
| Open all drapes, pull up all
shades, and let in the light. |
| Put higher watt bulbs in all
fixtures for better lighting. |
| If you cannot get ride of
stains in toilet bowl, buy a new one. This applies to all bathrooms,
including the one in the basement that is seldom used. |
| If possible, send all cats,
dogs, parrots, hamsters, and the pet monkey to your brother-in-laws from the
day the house goes on the market until the day it is sold. Remember to get
rid of any odors that they left behind. Over fifty percent of home
purchasers are either allergic to, afraid of, or simply dislike animals. |
| Clean all rubbish out of all
of the fireplaces, particularly the ones that have not been used in the last
three years. Call a chimney sweep. |
| Put two coats of off-white
paint over the chartreuse, tangerine, purple, orange or any dark colored
walls. Also if walls are dirty, one coat of white paint will work wonders. |
| Remove every bit of grease
from the inside of the oven and burner trays. |
| Fix the front door bell,
storm door, and front entry. Paint
the front door, porch and
railings. (First impressions
last!) |
| Shampoo the carpets. |
| Put new washers in all
dripping faucets. |
| Throw away the torn shower
curtain and put up a new one. |
| Remove junk from the attic,
basement, closets, and tool shed; have a great garage sale. Contribute
whatever remains to the next trash pick-up. |
| Organize closets. Pack up
things you will not be using over the next few months. If your closets are
jammed packed, they appear small. |
| Turn off all blaring stereos
and TV sets while the house is being shown. Soft music is more desirable. Set
the mood with music prior to leaving for a showing of your house. |
| Water all dying plants or get
rid of them. |
| Adjust all doors, including
closets, and windows so they can be opened and closed easily. |
| Dust, clean and scrub
everything -- that means EVERYTHING -- from the attic to the basement. |
| Replace broken tiles on walls
or floors and re-paste loose or dangling wallpaper. |
| Make the beds and keep all
clothes out of sight. |
| Keep the kitchen counter tops
and sink clean and clear. |
| Secure all banisters and
handrails. |
| Remove all posters and
adhesives from walls and doors. |
| Paint the basement floor and
walls if needed. If the basement shows signs of any water or structural
problems a structural engineer's report is suggested. |
| If water pressure is bad,
improve the plumbing system and piping to increase pressure throughout your
home. |
| Remove worn-out wall-to-wall
carpeting, providing base floors are either hardwood or wide board if in
fairly good condition. Buff and clean the floors. Replace carpeting with
neutral colors if necessary. |
| Remove excess extension cords
and exposed wires to lamps, appliances, and computers. |
| Replace all broken screens,
cracked windowpanes, faulty light fixtures, loose basement stair steps, and
anything else not in good working condition. |
