The condition of your home can either detract from orenhance its appeal. This checklist is designed to provide youwith an easy and systematic approach to improving yourhome’s sales appeal. Six steps are outlined in the checklist.Please note:

n The checklist is most effective when you review the stepsin order.

n Some items (i.e. lawn, kitchen, bath, etc.) appear in multi-ple categories. However, you will be checking for differentthings in each category.

n The first three steps involve removing detractions. Theseare must-do’s because they will catch the buyer’s attentionand leave a negative impression if not corrected.

n The last three steps involve making enhancements. Theseare suggestions that may help your home shine and standout from others on the market.

Be sure to consult with your real estate professional and get his or her suggestions for your personal selling situation.

Good Luck — you’re well on your way to a successful sale!

The items in this section may result in substantial expense; but if you have obvious problems, it’s important to fix them or they may prevent your home from selling.

Following are the items buyers will perceive as needingmajor repairs. Consider replacing, repairing or repainting if they are damaged, defective or worn out.

Depersonalizing involves removing those items that reflectyour family’s personal tastes. It is an inexpensive process thatwill have a great impact on your home’s appearance.

Remove and store the following…either out-of-sight orneatly packed up and out of the way.

Depersonalizing

Major Repairs

Preparing Your Home To Sell

A house that is dirty and disorganized will stop a buyer cold.Before putting your home on the market, perform a thoroughcleaning and maintenance check. Remember…your homemust be ready to show at ALL times, so continue with ongo-ing daily and weekly cleaning.

MAINTENANCE Make certain each of the following are operable and in

good condition (i.e. secure, not broken or damaged, etc.).

MAJOR CLEANINGPerform a “cleaning overhaul” of your home. The

items on this list should be cleaned from top to bottomand neatly organized or manicured. You may even wantto consider professional services.

Cleaning & Maintenance

ONGOING CLEANINGContinue with daily/weekly yardwork (i.e. mowing,

trimming) and general cleaning (i.e. vacuuming, dusting, disinfecting, picking up).

Buyers will discover your home through the five senses…sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. By enhancing your home to appeal to each sense, you maximize the likelihood that buyers will desire your home.

Consider doing the following steps to increase yourhome’s sales appeal…the rewards could be substantial.

EXTERIORo Sidewalkso Stepso Drivewayo Foundationo Sidingo Roofo Gutters/

Downspoutso Fencing

o Windowso Screens

INTERIORo Flooring o Ceilings & Walls o Paint &

Wallpapero Trimo Countertopso Appliances

o Water Heatero Furnaceo Air Conditionero Basement

(moisture)o Electricalo Septic Tank

EXTERIORo Trees & Shrubso Windowpaneso Windows

(move freely)o Chimneyo Outdoor Lightso Garage Door

Opener o Doorbell

o Door Hinges o Door Handles

& LocksINTERIORo Walls (spackle

& paint)o Handrailso Light Switches

& Plugso Light Fixtures

o Fireplaceo Tub and Shower

Caulkingo Drainso Faucetso Toilets o Air Conditioner

& Furnace Filters

INTERIORo Refrigerator

Magnetso Valuableso Family Photos

o Magazines/Newspapers

o Personal Knick-Knacks

o Posters

o Awards/Trophieso Collectionso Gameso Curioso Paperwork

EXTERIORo Lawno Shrubs & Treeso Garage

(grease spots)o Front Entrance INTERIORo Carpeting

(steam clean)o Wood Floorso Tile Floors (wax)o Drapes

(steam clean)o Window Sillso Windows,

Glass & Mirrorso Baseboardso Walls

o Ceilingso Light Fixtureso Ceiling Fanso Electric Cords

(remove or hide)o Fireplace

(incl. chimney)o Closetso Sinks (leak

stains)o Plants (remove

if unhealthy)o Boxes (store

in neat piles)o Furnaceo Air Conditionero Attico Basement

o Kitchen (must be extra clean)l cupboards l drawersl refrigeratorl freezer (defrost)l ovenl stove and

vent fano Bathroom (must

be extra clean)l regrout tile

SIGHTo Manicure the front lawno Trim low tree limbso Prune shrubso Remove weedso Powerwash the exterioro Paint or stain the front dooro Polish house numbers,

front door handles & mailboxo Use higher wattage light

bulbs

o Turn all lights on for showings

o Open or remove curtainso Remove unnecessary pieces

of furnitureo Rearrange furniture to create

spaceo Light a fire in the fireplaceo Repaint walls that reflect

personal taste

SOUNDo Close windows that back up

to busy roads o Turn off all televisionso Turn off all appliances

(i.e. dishwashers, laundry)o Fix all squeaks (i.e. stairs,

floors, hinges)

o Play soft music (jazz or easy listening)

o Remove yourselves, pets & children during showings

EXTERIORo Lawn

l remove petdroppings

o Shrubso Driveway o Sidewalkso Front Entrance o Patio/Decko Remove Snow

(if applicable)o Rake Leaves

(if applicable)o Close Garage

Doors

INTERIORo Litter Boxeso Trash Canso Ashtrays o Laundry o Carpets/Throw

Rugso Wood & Tile

Floorso Windows o Furnitureo Woodworko Mirrors & Glass o Make beds

o Clutter (pickedup, inside & out)

o Kitchen Counters & Appliances

o Disheso Bathrooms

EXTERIORo Vehicles

(put in garage)

o RecreationalVehicles

o Trailerso Lawn Equipment

o Gardening Toolso Toys & Sports

Equipment

5-Sense Appeal

Detailing is the process of adding extra touches and accentsthat are subtle but have a huge impact on buyers’ emotions.These extra touches will make it easier for buyers to seethemselves living in the home. Consider adding the follow-ing details:

Detailing

5-Sense Appeal (cont’d from page 4)

SEASONAL TIPSSummero Set air conditioning to cooler temperature o Keep lawn watered

Fallo Hang a harvest wreath on dooro Display pumpkins and autumn flower arrangements

Wintero Setup a place for boots and shoeso Place a rug and/or plastic runner near front dooro Keep a crackling fire burning in the fireplaceo Shovel sidewalks then sand any iceo Build a snowman in the front yard

Springo Plant outdoor flowers (especially in front)o Hang a bright-colored wreath on the front door

In most cases major improvements rarely result in a dollar-for-dollar return, but they might mean the difference between sell-ing or not selling. Be careful not to overimprove by addingamenities that are uncommon in your neighborhood or pricerange.

NOTE: This list may include items that seem extreme foryour geographic region, neighborhood or price range. The listis designed to provide you with ideas and certainly not all ofthem will apply.

Major Improvements

Before making any major improvements, please checkwith your real estate professional; he or she has the experience to make suggestions for your home.

This section deals with those items that you do not intend tosell, but are often mistaken as fixtures by buyers. Wheneverpractical, remove items not intended for sale prior to show-ings.

Be sure to talk with your real estate professional aboutthe items on this list and any others that might be applicable to your own selling situation.

Compliments of:

Inclusions & Exclusions

EXTERIORo Sealcoat drivewayo Replace old storm doors

with full view doorso Replace old house numbers

with brass numberso Replace old mailbox &

outside light with brasso Add flowers in window

boxes

o Add potted or hanging flowers to the front entrance

o Hang a wreath on the frontdoor

o Consider adding shutterspainted with contrasting colors

o Clean downspouts/gutters

INTERIORo Display fresh or dried flower

arrangement in living room & entry way

o Place fresh flowers on din-ing and coffee tables

o Display large green plantsthroughout the home (be careful not to overdo it)

o Set dining table with plates,flatware, glasses & cloth napkins w/rings

o Apply polyurethane to cabi-nets, woodwork and exposedbrick

o Paint ceilings with a purewhite semi-gloss

o Add trim moldings toenhance rooms with standardeight-foot ceilings

o Replace economy light fix-tures with attractive fixtures

o Install combination ceilingfan/light fixtures where appro-priate

o Install a dimmer switch inthe dining room

o Replace switch or plugplates with brass or wood

o Cover switch or plug plateswith matching wallpaper

o Add a set of matching tow-els, flowers & scented soapsin bathrooms

o Replace shower curtainso Install flourescent lighting

in basement.o Replace ordinary slab doors

with paneled doors

o Garage Door Openero Additional Telephone

Outletso Skylightso Security Systemo Yard Lightso Deck or Patioo Yard Shedo Garageo Fireplaceo Central Air Conditioningo Sprinkler Systemo Bay or Garden Windowso Hot Tub or Swimming Pool

o Landscapingo Update/Remodel Kitchen

l replace outdated appliancesl add disposall add a double ovenl install new flooringl add new countertops

o Update Bathroomsl add whirlpool tubl new ceramic tilel new toilet or vanityl add an additional or

guest bath

o Applianceso Chandeliers/Light Fixtureso Shelvingo Bookcaseso Mirrorso Draperieso Faucetso Firewood

o Gazeboso Basketball Hoopso Dog Runs/Kennelso Fuel Oilo Carpetingo Grillso Birdhouseso Landscaping/Yard Ornaments

SMELLEliminate negative smells:o Pet odors (may require

professional cleaning)o Smoke (may require

professional cleaning)o Food odors (i.e. garlic,

cooking oil, fish) o Air fresheners (they make it

seem as if you are hiding something)

o Trash cans & compactors(add baking soda)

Add pleasant scents:o Fresh flowerso Light potpourri (cinnamon

or vanilla)o Candles (they absorb odors)o Put a lemon down the dis-

posalo Sprinkle vanilla extract on

oven walls, heat to 350˚ o Cinnamon or pinch of

cloves in boiling watero Lilac and rose scented soaps

in the baths

TASTEo Make home appear appetiz-

ing. Buyers should be able tovisualize themselves eatingthere.

o Sanitize kitchen sink and counters

o Clean oveno Clean refrigerator (put fresh

baking soda on shelf) o Display a basket of fruit

TOUCHo Add soft/padded rugs to

hard floors o Oil drawers, cabinets and

door mechanisms

o Set room temperaturearound 68˚-72˚

o Run a dehumidifier in the basement

© Copyright 1996 David Knox Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.