Preparing your home to be shown

There was in article in the Omaha World Herald on Sunday February 21, 2010 titled, "Looking Good" by Barbara Ballinger. In this article she gave a list of ways to make your home shine before the prospective buyer comes through. Here they are:

1. Curb appeal - make sure your lawn is mowed, porch is clean, and flowers are planted.

2. Impress them at night - many buyers drive around and look at homes in the evening after they are off work. Be sure that your outdoor lights are working and on in the evenings.

3. Clutter free - This one is a hard one. Floor and all surfaces, like counter tops and tables, will look larger and clean. There is a rule of 3 - leave only three things on your counters or tables.

4. Repaint - if needed, touch up walls. If you have vibrant colors in your home, it may be a good idea to paint a more neutral color to accommodate more buyers. Some people can not see past a bright color.

5. Freshen Up - be sure rooms smell fresh and clean. You have to be careful with this one, you don't want a buyer to think you are covering up a smell. Do not leave candles burning if you are not home. A good carpet freshener may be a good idea.

6. Clean the Carpets - if you have a pet or your carpets are dirty in any way, it is recommended to professionally clean your carpets. This is a way to keep your carpets looking good for longer too.

7. Clean out your refrigerator and closets - not a fun task, but it is almost guaranteed that a prospective buyer will open your closets, drawers, and any other clutter hiding place. Buyers expect to see organized places. One important thing to do while cleaning out cabinets is to put away any medicines.

8. Make small repairs - if a light buld needs replaced or a cabinet door needs tightened, these are minor repairs that you can make that may just make a difference.

9. Dress it up - if you are willing to put a little money into your home to make it shine, think about adding a new faucet in the kitchen or baths. Another cheap and quick way to make the important places in your home stand out is new hardware on your cabinets. Try a chrome color or even a rustic bronze.

10. Remove anything too personal - another hard one for people. Put away your personal pictures, you want the buyer to look at your house, not your family. Also, if you have anything that is too religious or overly political, it can taint a buyers views on your home. It is just easier to put them away until you are in your next home.

11. Bring in a professional cleaning crew - you may think that you do a great job cleaning your home and you probably do, but cleaning above the cabinets and in little cranny's that you don't know about is perfect for a professional team to do and just make sure it is all done right. You will then be able to keep up the cleaning while the property is on the market.


I hope these items have helped you out in preparing your home to be put on the market. If it seems impossible to get rid of all of your things prior to listing, think about renting a storage unit. This is cheap and may get you more money for your property.

Good Luck!