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.
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 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.
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.
WINDOWS: All windows should be spotlessly clean
inside and out. All window sills should be 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.
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.
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