1. Have a garage sale before the home is listed.
Get rid of clutter to allow the buyer to really see your home. Pack away everything you
can and clean out items you won't need in your next home. Homebuyers will expect
you to be preparing to move, so a few packing boxes here and there can be used to
your advantage. They could be a good visual stimulant to someone who is "on the
fence;" they show that you are moving and are serious about finding a buyer.
2. Make the Buyer feel Welcomed at the front door.
Put out a new doormat, but avoid mats with cutesy sayings. Clean and polish the
brass door knocker. Put potted flowers on the porch. Make sure the front entry floor is
always sparkling clean and the porch and steps are always swept. First impressions
count.
3. Stimulate buyers' imaginations.
Set the dinner table with your best dishes/china. Use the coziness and romance of the
fireplace to its advantage. Put a pair of wine glasses on a tray by the fireplace and a
vase of flowers on the coffee table. Your goal is to set a scene that will encourage
buyers to imagine themselves living in your home.
4. Be ruthless about odors.
If there is a smell, your house won't sell. Use cleansers to make the home smell fresh
such as carpet freshener to potpourri. Avoid too much bleach. Deodorize cat litter and
scoop daily. Put cedar chips inside the bedroom closets. However, be careful when
using room sprays as they can irritate allergies. You can also use the sense of smell to
your advantage by having fresh-baked cookies on the kitchen table, creating a
“homey” environment.
5. Create a spacious feeling.
Make sure that all doors, cabinets and drawers open all the way without bumping into
anything or sticking. Clean out the entry closet and put only a few hangers in it, with
coats- not over crowded. Move oversized furniture to a storage facility. Make sure
entrances to all rooms have an open flow where your potential buyers can walk
around.
6. Make the most of views.
Disguise unsightly views. Put a screen or a basket of flowers in front of a fireplace if it
isn’t in use. Open heavy draperies and blinds. Make sure the interior is visible from the
street. All windows must be crystal clean and clear.
7. Create counter space.
Store away your extra appliances. Put away dish racks, soap dishes and other clutter.
Decrease kitchen clutter further by removing magnets from the refrigerator.
8. Avoid eccentric decor.
De-personalize your teenager's room, the game room or other areas by removing wild
posters or other decorative item that could be construed as offensive. Remove
decorations which might not appeal to the masses, from hanging beads in doorways
to jars where your children store their spider collections.
9. Let there be light.
Increase the wattage in light bulbs in the laundry room, kitchen and bathrooms. For
showings, turn on lights in every room.
10. Show how this house is a home.
Decorate and use each room as it is designed to be. Do not have an office in your
bedroom or the living room with a pool table, as examples.
