HOW TO GET READY TO SHOW YOUR HOME TO PROSPECTIVE BUYERS

 

Clean, Clean, Clean !!! Top to Bottom. Find all those dust balls and get rid of them. Clean all the windows and window sills. Catch all the webs of dust in the corners of rooms, especially where the walls meet the ceiling. Clean all your lamps and ceiling fan blades.

 

Clutter! No-one likes to see another’s clutter. De-clutter - Put everything away that you possibly can, but put it away neatly. Don’t just throw it in your closets or a spare room in the basement. People like to see storage space, but not space crammed with your possessions.

 

In the kitchen - everything off the counters - even small appliances. If you have been cooking lately, remember that the aromas last a long time. Freshen the air by burning scented candles, making some fresh brewed coffee, or baking an apple pie. Even putting some coffee beans on a tray and baking them lightly will add a pleasing aroma to your kitchen. Un-clutter your cupboards. People need to see space. Put away all of your knick-knacks. Move all the things that have accumulated up above your cupboards. Put away all of your cooking utensils. Make the kitchen appear clean, spacious, and bright. For many, this is the most important room in the house.

 

In the bathrooms - spotlessly clean and fresh is the key here. Counter tops should be clear of everything that is personal. Again, keep scented candles burning here. Make sure the mirror doesn’t have water spots. Keep all medicines, hygiene and dental care products, hairbrushes, etc. well out of site.

 

In the bedrooms - put away all of your personal stuff, but don’t just fill your closets. People open closets to see how much space they will have for their things, not yours. Make sure the floor is clean, even under the bed. Make sure the bed is made. Make sure all the light bulbs in the room work and that ceiling light bulbs have clean, unbroken covers.

 

In other areas of the home - again, make sure all light bulbs are working. Make sure all hard surfaces are dusted. Put away all footwear not being used. Put away some family photos. Too many of these are distracting. Make sure all bookcases are neat - books vertical, loose papers put away, knick-knacks put away. Touch up chipped paint and stains where possible. Obvious damage should be repaired, such as doors that look like they have been used as punching bags. Wood trim that is scratched should be touched up with an appropriate wood-coloured crayon. All windows should be cleaned inside and out.

 

Outside - there should be no junk lying around the yard or garden. Any low brick or stone walls should be in good repair. If they are falling over, just straighten them up. Outside wood trim should be painted. The idea is to make the yard look spacious and well-cared for. As people approach your home, the exterior is their first impression.

 

Major renovations are not required. The main focus should be:

CLEAN     DE-CLUTTER      DE-PERSONALIZE

 

The more a home appears to be in “move-in” condition, the more people will be able to imagine themselves living in your home with their own personal items and clutter.

Step 1 - get sturdy boxes to put your personal possessions in.

Step 2 - put your personal possessions in your sturdy boxes. This includes

everything you do not use on a regular basis (clothing, books,

cooking utensils, dishes, decorative knick-knacks, personal and

household cleaning products, stuff, and junk), and things you only

use occasionally (small appliances, footwear, coats, stationary, etc.)

Step 3 - take your sturdy boxes to another person’s house if possible or put

them in storage somewhere. You’re going to be moving anyway, so

you might as well start moving now.

Step 4 - fix broken doors, windows, faucets, etc. Fix anything that can be

fixed at little cost.

Step 5 - clean inside and out, top to bottom. If you need to, hire a cleaning

company. It will be money well spent. Once your home is clean and

de-cluttered, keep it that way until it is sold.

Step 6 - if you have an indoor pet, clean litter boxes daily and keep their

eating area well out of sight, if possible. When your home is being

shown, your pets should be out with you, not left in the house.

 

CLEAN       DE-CLUTTERED       DE-PERSONALIZED

 

if you would like professional assistance with the marketing and sale of your home, email me at dougsnider@live.com

 

 

Ontario real estate, Ontario homes for sale, Ontario houses for sale, Ontario MLS listing search, Niagara Falls real estate, Niagara Falls homes for sale, Niagara Falls houses for sale, Niagara Falls MLS listing search, Grimsby homes for sale, Grimsby houses for sale, Grimsby MLS listing search,Fort Erie MLS listing search,Fort Erie homes for sale, Fort Erie houses for sale, Fort Erie MLS listing, Niagara-on-the-Lake houses for sale,Niagara-on-the-Lake MLS listing search,Niagara-on-the-Lake homes for sale, Niagara-on-the-Lake houses for sale, Niagara-on-the-Lake homes for sale, Niagara-on-the-Lake real estate, Niagara on the Lake real estate, NOTL homes for sale, NOTL houses for sale, NOTL real estate, NOTL Realty, NOTL commercial property, St.Catharines homes for sale, St.Catharines houses for sale,St.Catharines MLS listing search, St.Catharines real estate, Fonthill homes for sale, Fonthill houses for sale, Fonthill MLS listings, Fonthill real estate, Virgil real estate for sale, Virgil homes for sale, Virgil houses for sale, Virgil MLS listings, Welland real estate, Welland homes for sale, Welland houses for sale, Welland MLS listing search, Ridgeway homes for sale, Ridgeway houses for sale, Ridgeway real estate, Ridgeway MLS listings, Crystal Beach homes for sale, Crystal Beach MLS listing search, Crystal Beach houses for sale, Crystal Beach real estate, Stevensville real estate, Stevensville houses for sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

房地產服務提供粵語和普通話