Thank you for calling on Rashid Realty for your real estate needs.  Here is a checklist for you to consider as you prepare your home for sell. Use the exterior items’ checklist for things on your patio, where applicable.

Exterior

A. Grass and Shrubs: Keep trimmed.  Consider a fast-greening fertilizer such as ammonium sulfate (inexpensive) for a deep green lawn.

B. Pets: If you have a dog, clean up any dog dirt on a daily basis.  If you have a cat, change your litter box daily.  Secure pets when the house is being shown.

C. Fences: Make any needed repairs.  A neat, well-painted fence gives a positive impression.

D. Flowers: Plant seasonal blooming flowers, especially near the front door and in patio area.  A profusion of color can have your home half-sold before the door is even opened.

E. Bird feeders: Hummingbird feeders and birdhouses create a pleasant mood, especially when they are close to any patio area.

F. Paint

Front door should be refinished or painted if it shows excessive wear.

Check exterior paint.  Often only the trim or, depending on sun exposure, only on or two sides of the house need painting.  Keep in mind the fact that paint is cheap compared to the extra dollars a home with a clean fresh appearance will bring.
 

G. Lawn furniture: Place lawn furniture in an attractive, leisurely manner.  A badminton net or croquet set-up gives a positive image as well.

H. Roof: if the roof needs to be repaired or replaced, it's best to have the work done.  Otherwise, buyers will want to deduct the cost even if your price already reflects the required work.  Delaying repairs could end up actually costing you twice as much.

II.  Interior

A. Housekeeping: You are competing again model homes, so your home must look as much like a model as possible.  Floors, bath fixtures and appliances must be sparkling.  Make beds early in the day.  Unmade beds create a negative image.

B. Odors and Aromas: Avoid using vinegar or frying or cooking strong-smelling foods such as cabbage just before showing.  The odors last and work against the image you are trying to create.  On the other hand, some smells have a positive effect on people: baked bread, apple pie, chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon rolls are examples of foods that can help sell you home!  Consider keeping packaged cookie in the refrigerator.  Just before a scheduled showing, the smell of these baking foods can be a great help to us.

C. Paint: if you have leftover paint, you can accomplish a great deal by touching up paint where needed.  If the paint is dark, repaint with light colors such as off-white, oyster, light beige or pale yellow.  Light colors make rooms appear fresh as well as larger.

D.  Plumbing: Repair any leaky faucets.  Make certain you don't have a gurgling toilet.

E.  Shades and blinds: Replace any torn shades or broken blinds.

F.  Drapes: if drapes need cleaning, have it done.  If they are old and worn, stained or dark, consider replacing them with light colors. (Large department stores or catalog houses will generally solve the problem.)  Vertical blinds should be considered as an alternative to drapes.  They are less expensive than all but the cheapest drapes and have a clean, modern appearance.

G.  Carpets: Dirty carpets should be either professional steam cleaned (preferred) or you should rent a heavy-duty cleaner.

H. Lighting: If any room appears dark, increase the wattage of your light bulbs.  Before a showing, open the blinds and drapes and turn on the lights, even during the day.  You want the house as light as possible.  Make certain you light fixtures and windows are clean.

I.  Closets: If closets appear crowded, remove items not needed and put in boxes.  They can be stacked neatly in a corner and attic or garage.

J.  Too much furniture: Many houses appear crowded, with too many pieces of large furniture as well as knick-knacks.  Consider putting excess furniture in storage.

K.  Garage: Spruce up you work area.  Consider a garage sale to get rid of excess items too good to throw away but of no use to you.  Put excess items in boxes and stack them neatly in a corner.  Consider using a commercial garage floor cleaner on excess oil and grease marks or the garage floor and driveway.  You might consider a commercial steam cleaner (different from carpet clean).

L.  Temperature: On cold days, a natural fire in a fireplace will help us sell your home.  Start the fire before the showing is scheduled.  On hot days, consider turning on the air conditioner four to five degrees cooler than normal.  The contrast will seem phenomenal, giving a very positive reaction.  In moderate weather, open windows for fresh air.

 III.  You

When your home is shown, it is best that you disappear for a while.  Buyers feel restrained with an owner present.  If buyers will not voice their concerns, then their questions cannot be answered and their problems cannot be solved.

If you must remain in the house, try to stay in one area.  Excellent places to be are working in the garden, on the lawn, or in the workshop.  These activities create a positive image.  While soft music is fine, do not have a TV on.

Never, never follow an agent around the house during the showing, volunteer any information or answer questions the buyers may have.  Defer buyers' questions to me.  You have engaged a professional real estate brokerage to represent you.  We will request clarification from you where necessary.