Real Estate Websites by My-Real-Estate-Website.com

Browse > Home > Tips For Sellers > Basic Prep Before You Stage

Basic Prep Before You Stage

Published January 1, 2009
By Brad Bergamini  

“Buyers are concerned with whether the property will serve their needs comfortably, will they be proud to invite family and friends, can they envision themselves happy in the property.”

-
  • Open the draperies; pull up the shades and let the sunlight in.
  • Clean every room thoroughly. Give your home a “ready to move in look”.
  • Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night. Open the curtains during the day.
  • Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly – in its best light. Turn on all lights.
  • Remove all clutter from each room to visually enlarge them.
  • Play soft music in the background when your home is scheduled for a showing.
  • If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.
  • Keep your home dusted and vacuumed at all times.
  • Have a family emergency “game plan” to get the home in order quickly if necessary.
  • Kill the offensive odors. They're the first thing buyers notice, and often a permanent turnoff.
  • Air out your home one half hour before the showing if possible.
  • Lightly spray the room with air freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse and air before the buyer arrives.
  • Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before the showing and place it in an out of the way place in the kitchen or install vanilla plug ins (one in foyer, one in kitchen, and one at top of stairs).
  • Create a master “suite” effect in your decorating.
  • Create the feeling of spaciousness.
  • Make sure that beds are made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean.
  • Inspect your homes closets (buyers will). Clean out and organize, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Avoid the sardine look.
  • Set the scene by setting the table! Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand dining table.
  • Buyers judge overall housekeeping by how clean the kitchen is. Don't give them a reason to turn up their noses. Keep it spotless.
  • Clean the kitchen thoroughly, leaving very few items on the countertops. Don't forget to keep your appliances clean at all times. That includes your refrigerator. Don't let buyers see moldy food sitting in the fridge – they'll wonder what other part of the house you might neglect.
  • Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stovetops, walls, etc.
  • Expand your counter space by removing small appliances and other items.
  • Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
  • Always keep bathrooms spotlessly clean and orderly. Do not leave dirty towels around and wipe down the shower after every use.
  • A very light coat of baby oil on the shower walls and doors will help prevent water spots; keep it off the shower floor though.
  • Fix dripping faucets, repair or replace damaged fixtures.
  • Straighten items in vanities, medicine cabinets, and linen closets. Throw out what you don't use.
  • If the caulking is not sparkling white, re-caulk.
  • Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings.
  • Clean your home's skylights, because buyers always inspect skylights and sun tunnels.
  • Eliminate clutter. Remove photographs from table-tops.
  • In a home office, clear your desk, organize your paper, empty your trash make the space seem efficient, identify extra electric, phone lines, or separate wiring for computer use.
  • Shampoo all carpets and vacuum them daily.
  • If the carpet does not clean up well you should REPLACE IT.
  • Improve traffic flow through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness in every room by removing unnecessary furniture, knick-knacks, hobby items, children's items, etc.
  • However, try to avoid creating a “sterile” looking environment.
  • Clean rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean in the winter.
  • If you have numerous family photo's put them away until your home is under contract. Perspective buyers will feel more like it can be their home if they aren't aware of your family photo memories.
  • Remove all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and especially from the storage area if you have one.
  • Remove clutter from the garage, make it seem as though there is room to easily park any size car or truck.
  • Rent a storage area for these items or have a yard sale.
  • Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and by removing all unnecessary clutter.
  • Regardless of the season, tackle spring-cleaning. Clean everything in your home from top to bottom, from the attic to the basement.
  • Clean or paint the basement walls and floor.
  • Curtains should be fresh, clean and attractive.
  • Clean all light fixtures and chandeliers to brighten the home.
  • Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.
  • Put out unobtrusive dishes or baskets of potpourri.
  • Remove posters, adhesives, children's glow in the dark stars from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps.
  • Depersonalize teenagers' rooms and decorate in a neutral temperament.
  • Paint all inside walls with off-white paint. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright or dark walls. Many people do not like to live around strong or bright colors.
  • All walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger.
  • Repair or replace all doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.
  • Repair and/or tighten banisters and handrails.
  • Quiet any annoying squeaks on the stairs or floors. Carpet contractors can be hired to screw down squeaky floors.
  • Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs.
  • Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.
  • If the basement shows any signs of water or structural damage DO NOT try to hide it. You are required by law to disclose these types of problems to the buyer. It's great to paint the walls, but don't try to hide it.
  • Replace all toilet bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean.
  • Make sure toilets flush properly.
  • Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
  • Replace the washers in faucets and remove rust stains form basins.
  • Water and prune all indoor plants.
  • Use plants in transitional areas of your home between inside and out.
  • Either get rid of dying plants or keep them out of sight.
  • Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.
  • Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic, basement, etc.
  • Close all other closet doors and cabinets.
  • Add visual appeal to stairways, especially in unfinished stairways to the basement.
  • Make the most of your attic's potential.
  • Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it out.
  • Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.
  • Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc.
  • Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting systems.
  • Take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping now if you are planning to sell your home later in the season.
  • Display these photos in your home in the wintertime.
  • Wax wood floors. Keep all floors spotless.
  • Make sure all doorknobs and cabinet pulls are clean and in working order.
  • Once the property is in shape, invest a little time each day to keep it fresh and clean.