Every seller wants their home to sell in the least amount of time and for the most amount of money.  To make this a reality, all you need is a bit of careful planning and some basic knowledge on how to professionally present your home for showings.  Preparing your home for the market is one of the most important steps in the home selling process.  

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Use the following 10 Steps to turn your home into a marketable home:

1. Disassociate Yourself From The Home

• Emotionally let go of the home - the quicker you do this, the easier it will be to hand over the keys later.
• View the home as a product by saying to yourself, "This is not my home, this is a house - a product to be sold just like a box of cereal."

2. De-Personalize

• Put away all personal photographs, family heirlooms, and small knickknacks.
• Keeps buyers from being distracted and enables them to imagine themselves living in the space.      

3. De-Clutter

• Remove accumulated clutter.  If you have not used it in over a year, then you probably do not need it.
• If you do not need it, you can donate it or throw it away.
• Remove books from bookcases/shelves.
• Pack up all knickknacks and put them in storage.
• Clean everything off kitchen countertops.
• Put essential items that are used daily into a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
• Think of this process as a head-start on packing you will eventually do later.

4. Rearrange Kitchen Cabinets and Bedroom Closets

• Inherent nature of any buyer is to snoop which means they will likely open cabinet and closet doors.
• If everything is organized, you send a message to the buyer that the rest of the house is also well-maintained.

Bedroom Closets:

• Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
• Use small storage bins with lids to hide any miscellaneous clutter.
• Line up shoes.

Kitchen Cabinets:

• Neatly stack dishes.
• Arrange all canned products in an organized fashion.
• Turn coffee cup handles so they all face the same direction.
• Clear the fridge of any photos, calendars or other personal items. Fridge doors should be empty and clean.
• Do not forget to organize items in the drawers!

5. Remove and Store Furniture (If needed, rent a storage unit!)

• Remove and store pieces of furniture that block or hamper walkways/hallways.
• Now that your bookcases are empty, store them.
• Reduce your dining room table by removing extra leaves to make the room appear larger.
• Keep just enough furniture in each room to showcase its purpose and plenty of space.

6. Remove and Replace Favorite Items

• If you plan on taking items with you such as window coverings, appliances, or fixtures, remove them now.
• The reason behind this: if the buyer never sees it, then he/she will not want it.
• If necessary, replace them (especially light fixtures) with generic brands.

7. Make Minor Repairs

• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
• Patch holes in walls.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Lube the hinges on squeaky doors.
• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
• Consider re-painting your walls using neutral colors.
• Replace burnt-out light bulbs.
• Fix or replace faulty window coverings.
• Repair any broken screens on doors and windows

8. Make The House Sparkle!

• Wash windows inside and out.
• Spray down sidewalks and exterior using a pressure washer (rent-able!)
• Clean out cobwebs.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers, and sinks.
• Polish faucets and mirrors.
• Clean out the refrigerator.
• Wax hardwood floors and wash/scrub ceramic floors.
• Vacuum daily. Consider shampooing the carpet.
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades, and light fixtures.
• Bleach dingy grout.
• Replace worn rugs.
• Hang up fresh towels.
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. (Odors will repel buyers!)

9. Be Your Own Critic

• Stand in your front doorway.  Does the house welcome you?  Do you want to go inside?
• Go from room to room and imagine how your house will look to a potential buyer.
• Carefully examine how furniture is arranged and move things around until you are satisfied.
• Make sure window coverings are not crooked and that they hang level.

10. Verify Curb Appeal

• Mow the lawn.
• Keep sidewalks cleared.
• Trim bushes and get rid of any weeds.
• Paint faded window trim.
• Keep your driveway clear and clean oil spills.
• In the winter season, shovel and salt the driveway, sidewalk, walkway, and steps.
• Plant yellow flowers or group flower pots together.  Keep in mind that yellow evokes a buying emotion.
• Make sure your house number is visible.
• Make sure the doorbell works!

If you need a second pair of hands, we are at your service!