Preparing Your Home to Sell

A dirty property may discourage a potential buyer. The effort put into repairing and cleaning your property is likely to be returned in a fast sale at an attractive price. As buyers approach your property the first time, impressions are formed quickly.

  • Paint house - this can do more for sales appeal than any other factor.
  • Yard - Remove all toys, garbage, garden tools and other items from view.
  • Mow lawn and keep edged.
  • Close garage doors.
  • Put colourful flowers in front of house.

Often, while waiting to be let in, the first thing a buyer looks at closely is the front door.

  • Put new paint on the front door.
  • Buy a new door mat.
  • Buyers take a close look at the basement of a home. They will look for bad wiring, leaky pipes and signs of decay.
  • Clean out basement and dispose of everything you are not going to move.
  • Ensure that there is plenty of lighting.
  • Sweep or vacuum floor.
  • Stack items neatly against walls.

The kitchen is often the most important room in the house.

  • Make it bright and attractive.
  • Put a vase of fresh flowers on the table.
  • Replace curtains or clean existing ones.
  • Remove appliances from counters.
  • Create a pleasant fragrance in the kitchen (i.e. vanilla, cinnamon).

It is important that bathrooms are clean, bright and smell fresh.

  • Install a new shower curtain and replace worn throw rugs.
  • Polish all fixtures.
  • Open windows.
  • Hang bright, fresh towels.
  • Remove stains from toilets and bathtubs.
  • Use air freshener.
  • Display colourful soaps.

The living room.

  • Clean out the fireplace and place logs in it.
  • Polish all woodwork.
  • Put big furniture in storage so rooms are not cluttered or crowded.

Repair Checklist:

Want to sell your home fast and without any hassle see that mechanical and electrical items are in good repair. Here's a checklist for all our sellers:

Heating and Cooling

  • Make certain furnace and home air conditioning are working properly.
  • Replace furnace filters; clean electrostatic filters if applicable.
  • Clean wall and floor ducts.
  • Replace any missing vent covers.

Plumbing

  • Make any necessary repairs to toilets that leak or flush improperly.
  • Repair any noisy toilets.
  • Fix leaking faucets or any that spray water.
  • Unclog any slow drains.
  • Check that all drain stops close completely.
  • Repair or replace badly worn or chipped plumbing fixtures.
  • Check that all showers and shower sprays work properly.
  • Replace broken kitchen disposals.
  • Be sure your basement sump pump works, if applicable.

Lighting & Electrical

  • All lighting fixtures and switches (both interior and exterior) should be in working order.
  • Make sure no fixture is missing a bulb. See that all bulbs are the correct wattage.
  • See that all switches have switch plates and all outlets have covers.
  • All phone jacks also need covers.
  • Check batteries in all smoke detectors and see that detector covers are firmly in place.
  • Be certain security systems work correctly.