If you get the buyer into the house, it is important to make their visit as pleasant as possible--and that means having the whole house ready. You want them to be as comfortable as possible, and to linger in the home. A "turn off" will send them scurrying quickly to the next house on their list!

One Room At A Time

Entry 

• Must be especially inviting for your guests (your potential buyers). Make certain it is well lit, clean and has nothing lying around either inside or outside. Paint the front door if it even remotely needs it.
• If you normally use a back or side entrance to your house, pay particular attention to the front entry. You rarely see it but this is where the buyers will enter!

Living Room or Great Room 

• If possible, keep furniture at a bare minimum so that traffic flow is easier and the room does not appear smaller than it actually is.
• If bookshelves, curio cabinets, and the like are overflowing with books and knick-knacks, remove some of them.

Family Room

• If this is the room you live in the most, make it look inviting but not overly lived in.
• Keep furniture at a minimum but make the room look like a comfortable place to spend time.

Kitchen 

• Clean the exterior of all appliances. Clean the oven interior.
• Clean or replace the stove hood filter. This is often overlooked, usually dirty and greasy, and looked at by a lot of buyers.
• Clean cabinet faces. Make them shine!
• Remove all clutter and unnecessary items from countertops and clean all countertops and backsplashes thoroughly.
• Clean vinyl or ceramic floor.
• If you have ceramic tile elsewhere in the kitchen, pay particular attention to the grout--make sure that it's clean. If it is discolored, there are "grout whitening" products that are available.

Bedrooms

• Remove all clutter. If you don't need it, store it or pitch it!
• Arrange or remove furniture to maintain good traffic flow through rooms. Remember, there may be three or four people in each group that walk through your house.

Bathrooms 

• Make sure all bulbs are working and have the highest wattage available and safe for each fixture. Brighter is better!
• Clean all ceramic tiles. Check the grout for cleanliness and deterioration.
• If faucets drip, fix them.
• Thoroughly clean sinks and tubs. If rust spots are on the porcelain, attempt to remove them.
• Remove any evidence of mildew from the shower and bathtub. Products are available that sprays on and quickly kill the mildew.

Basement 

• If the basement is damp or musty, consider a dehumidifier.
• Give prospective buyers room to move around. Clutter...well, you know the drill!

Garage 

• Remove all junk: broken tools, old car parts, toys from the 1960's, etc.
• If floor has oil marks, clean it (cleaning solutions are available at most home improvement stores and work with a normal garden hose).

Miscellaneous

• Replace the furnace filter.

Many home sellers make the mistake of ignoring certain repair or maintenance items in the hope that a potential buyer will either not notice, or if they do, telling them that they (the seller) will repair or replace the item. Most buyers do not have vision. They are not able to look at a room that needs paint and carpet and imagine it fresh and attractive. Telling them that something will be cleaned, or painted, or repaired may work with some, but the majority will not be able to envision the house after the changes have been made and will scratch your house from their list.

Interior Preparation 

• Painting: When it comes to preparing a house, painting gives you the best return for money spent. Which rooms should you paint? Any that have dirty or marked walls or any rooms that are currently painted in dark colors. Keep it neutral--off white or antique white is the best.
• Carpeting: At the very least, all carpeting needs to be steam cleaned. Any worn, stained or foul smelling carpet should be replaced. You may be tempted to give a "carpet allowance" and that may work. Just remember, most buyers do not have vision.
• Operation: If you are not having a whole house inspection done, check all faucets, toilets, and electrical items for correct operation.
• Safety: Make sure that your house is safe. Not only can a wobbly railing stop a sale, it Could also cause an injury to a potential buyer who is not familiar with your house (and is spending time looking instead of being careful).
• Clutter: If an item is not necessary for your day-to-day life, box it up and store it or throw it out!
• Fireplace: Have a professional fireplace or woodstove cleaning and inspection. The buyer will most likely request it anyhow. Getting it done in advance impresses the buyer and makes the home appear cleaner and fresher smelling.
• Closets: Make sure all closets are neat, clean, and organized. See above item on clutter.
• Doors and Windows: Check all for smooth operation. Replace any cracked window panes.
• Cleaning: Even though you may consider your house clean and tidy, a thorough cleaning--including dusting, washing, and waxing everything--will always make a house more appealing.

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