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1. Get rid of
clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines.
Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store
out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out
the garage.
2. Wash your
windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
3. Keep
everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch
plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A
clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers
that the home has been well cared for.
4. Get rid of
smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors,
smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5. Put higher
wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter,
especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out
bulbs.
6. Make minor
repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as
sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping
faucet may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression
that the house isn't well maintained.
7. Tidy your
yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge
the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes in
your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Clean your
gutters.
10. Polish your
front doorknob and door numbers.
Reprinted
with permission from Real Estate Checklists and Systems,
www.realestatechecklists.com.
Reprinted
from Realtor(R)Magazine Online permission of the NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS(R) Copyright 2005. All rights
reserved.
www.realtor.org/realtormag.
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