Here are some tips to help you prepare your home for sale:
- Cut the lawn; if you normally cut the lawn every two weeks, cut it every week during the listed period
- Edge the lawn, up the driveway and along the sidewalks (both front and back) for a finished appearance
- Trim all shrubbery and remove low lying tree limbs
- Fertilize your lawn to make your grass look lush and green
- Paint any trim work which is blistering
- Plant flowers in the front yard
- Repaint or restain the front door to create a pleasant first impression
- Replace torn screens from windows and front and back doors
- Paint only the rooms that really look finger-painted, worn or faded
- Have the wall-to-wall carpeting and/or draperies cleaned
- Fix any dripping faucets; perhaps only a washer is needed
- Replace old caulking around the bathtubs; this can be done with one new tube of new caulking and a putty knife
- Spray lubricant on all squeaky doors, windows, closets and cabinets
- Place solid deodorizer in each room and closet
- Store out-of-season clothes so the closets don't have a cluttered look
- Remove items in the garage and/or basement against the walls to show maximum floor space
- If there are too many appliances on the kitchen counter, put some of them away to expose maximum counter space
- Pre-pack items which may clutter your home - extra toys in your child's room and knick-knacks may actually make your rooms appear smaller
- Clean your home top to bottom; a professional cleaning service can do this for you; charges are minimal when you consider how much more appealing your home will become
- Wash windows; clean fans and ventilating hoods; clean and polish floors
- Remove stains from toilets, tubs and sinks
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