We only get one chance to make a good first impression.  Is your home ready for Buyers?

The achieve the highest selling price possible, you need to make your home look its best.  Here is a checklist that will help you.

 

A checklist.

 Inside Your Home  
 Floor Coverings Walls and ceilings 
 (carpeting, tile, linoleum, hardwood, etc.)  Dirt, fingerprints or other stains?
 Excessive wear or damage?  Nail or thumb-crack homes, tape residue?
 Area rugs clean and stain-free?  Cracks, chips, water damage?
   Need for repainting or new wallpaper?
Doors Neutral, light colours for roomy, environment?
Dirt, fingerprints or other stains?
Need new paint? Windows
Open/close easily without squeaks? Glass sparkling clean; chip and crack free?
Latches/handles secure and working properly? Open/close easily?
Latches/handles/locks secure, working properly?
Window coverings (curtains, drapes, blinds, etc.) Dirt and fingerprints on frames or sills?
Dirt or stains? Screens clean and without holes?
Excessive wear or sun damage? Storm windows in good condition?
Open/close easily; hardware working properly?
Pet areas
Lighting Clean, organized, odour-free?
(lighting makes a room feel more inviting)
All bulbs working and proper watteage? Entryways and hallways
Broken switches, exposed wiring? Clean and free of clutter or obstructions?
Table and floor lamps working properly? Welcome mat(s) clean and inviting?
Closets and storage areas Kitchen
Clean and well organized? Every surface sparkling clean?
Clothes hung neatly and not jammed together? Counter-tops organized, all but daily use appliances?
Shoes and boots neatly stored/stacked? Refrigerator spotless inside and out?
Organized? Spoiled food discarded?

Living room, dining room,

bedrooms, den and study

 Frost removed? Light bulbs working? (Buyers look!)
Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted? Oven/stove-top clean? Burner trays cleaned?
Excess furniture removed for roomier atmosphere? Sinks clean; faucets working properly and leak-free?
Remaining furniture clean and in good repair? Garbage disposal in good working condition?
Wood and other surfaces clean and polished? Cupboards/pantry spotless,organized?
Bookshelves neat, organized and clutter-free? Dishwasher clean and stain-free?
Children’s games/toys stored neatly?
Fragile items removed and stored? Bathrooms/powder room
Smaller valuables removed/locked away? Every surface sparkling clean?
Window coverings open for views and sunlight? Counter-tops organized, free of clutter? Fresh soap?
Mirrors clean and in good repair? Sinks spotlessly clean; faucets working properly?
Ashtrays cleaned and kept out of sight? Tub and shower surfaces clean?
Fireplace clean, logs/kindling stacked neatly? Towels stain-free and hanging neatly?
Shower curtain clean and in good repair?
Basement, furnace room, garage, attic storeroom Toilet extra-clean and working properly?
Clean and well organized? Closets organized and clutter-free?
Clutter and excess “junk” removed? Medicine cabinet clean, “personal items” removed?
Remaining items stored/stacked neatly?
Everything thoroughly vacuumed/dusted?
Outside Your Home
Structures Yard and environment
Exterior surfaces clean, in good condition? Driveways, sidewalks clear of snow, ice?
Front-door exterior clean, inviting? Leaves removed from lawns and flower beds?
Eavestroughs and downspouts clean, in good repair?

Lawns mowed/edged regularly; large bare spots repaired?

Gates open/close properly; hardware working?

 Trees pruned, hedges trimmed?
Fences/decks in good repair, in good condition? Flower beds weeded and tidy; dead plants replaced?
Sidewalks and walkways in good repair? “Junk” and scrap removed?
Driveway clean, in good repair? Lawn furniture clean, organized, good repair?
Bicycles, children’s toys stored neatly, out of way?
Firewood organized and neatly stacked?
Dog runs secure, yard free of ‘doggy deposits”?