Rich Shearrow

Real Estate Agent & Realtor®

614-554-7705

rich@realestategreatercolumbus.com
 

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Tips for Sellers

Tips to prepare your house for sale

General Suggestions

  • It's amazing what a little paint can do to improve the appearance of a home.  Touch it up.  If needed, paint the room.
  • Paint over any overly bold colors.  It doesn't HAVE to be white, but it should be "neutral".
  • Green plants can liven up a room.  Add them to the decoration whenever possible.

Garage

  • Straighten up the garage and place any items appropriately on pegboard hooks or other organizers.
  • Remove cobwebs from the walls and corners
  • Place an air freshener in an inconspicuous place in the garage
  • Replace light bulbs with highest wattage allowable for the fixture

Laundry

  • Needless to say, keep laundry caught up.
  • put clean clothes away promptly
  • If there is some laundry that needs to be done, put it in the washing machine and close the cover.
  • Wipe down machines to remove lint and detergent residue
  • Be sure to have laundry supplies properly stored on a shelf, or in the cabinet.
  • Replace light bulbs with highest wattage allowable for the fixtures

Kitchen

  • Take EVERYTHING off the countertops.  This includes the coffee maker, crock pot, can opener.  It's not that hard to take them out of the cupboard when you need them.
  • "Less is more".  Pack up any excess materials in the cupboards and drawers.  Buyers will be looking to see if there is enough room for their kitchen needs, and a cluttered or crammed drawer will give them a sense that the space is too limited for their needs.  If you have a "junk drawer", pack it up.
  • Clear out the space under the sink.  Buyers will be looking for leaks, or evidence of prior leaks.  No need to make it hard for them to see.
  • Obviously, repair any leaks.
  • Replace any worn shelf paper

Living Room

  • Obviously, dust and vacuum.
  • Open up the window treatments to allow as much light into the room as possible
  • Again, "less is more".  If you have furniture that lends to a "cramped" look, remove a few pieces and place them in storage.
  • Arrange furniture for optimal traffic flow,
  • Clean up any pet hair.
  • Shampoo carpets if needed (maybe even if it is not needed!)
  • Clean out any ashes in the fireplace.  If it is summertime, consider a floral arrangement for the space.  Remove any firewood to the outside, unless it is possible to make it more of a "decoration" than just plain old firewood.
  • Replace light bulbs with the highest wattage allowable for the fixture.

Master Bedroom

  • Obviously, make the beds, put away any clothes and personal items.
  • Clear off dressers and nightstands.
  • Lock up jewelry or other valuable items
  • Clear out the under-bed area (makes it seem like there is not enough storage room in the house)
  • Empty any laundry hampers that are seen.

Closets and storage areas

  • Pack up any unneeded clothes.  If the closets are crammed, the buyer will get the impression that they are small (no matter how big they are).  Ideally, the clothes will hang freely in the closet.
  • Storage areas should be neat and organized.

Basement

  • "Organized" is the word of the day.
  • People understand boxes (especially if you are preparing to move) in the basement or garage.  But keep them organized and stacked orderly.
  • Clean the windows (yea, I know.. but it will allow more light in).
  • Be sure any equipment, such as furnaces and water heaters are clean and in good repair (don't forget to change the furnace filter).
  • A clean coat of paint will do wonders in a basement.
 

 

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