90 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster

If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a number of things you can do to improve the overall impression made by your home.

But first -- You must learn to look at your home through the eyes of the buyer.

1. Open draperies, and pull up shades to let in the sunlight.

2. Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights - day or night. Have your home light and bright.

3. Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly -- in its best light.

4. Remove all clutter from each room to create the illusion of spaciousness.

5. If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating. Light it when possible during showings.

6. Keep your home dusted and vacuumed at all times.

7. Have a family emergency "game plan" to get the home in order quickly if necessary.

8. Air out your home one half hour before the showing, if possible.

9. Lightly spray rooms with fresheners and ensure any aroma has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.

10. Make sure that beds are made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean. Replace or remove torn or faded linens and curtains. Bare windows look better than bad window curtains.

11. Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.

12. Bathrooms should always be kept spotlessly clean. Remove excess shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles.

13. Do not leave used towels around and wipe down the shower areas after each use.

14. Recaulk if the caulking is not sparkling white, or is missing or cracked.

15. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings. Display towels decoratively.

16. Set the scene by setting the table! Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand dining table!

17. The kitchen should always be kept spotlessly clean. Items on countertops should be kept to a minimum.

18. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.

19. Highlight an eat-in-area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.

20. Shampoo all carpets, as needed and vacuum them daily.

21. If the carpet does not clean up well you should REPLACE IT!

22. Improve traffic flow through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness in every room by removing unnecessary furniture, knick-knacks, hobby items, children’s items, etc.

23. Declutter, but avoid creating a "sterile" looking environment.

24. Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stovetops, walls, etc

25. Clean ashes out of wood burning fireplace keep them.

26. Remove all unnecessary items from the garage, tool shed, closets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to store these items or having a yard sale. You’re going to move anyway - - start now.

27. Straighten, tidy, and remove unnecessary items from all closets. Put unnecessary items in storage.

28. FIX THE FRONT DOOR BELL

29. Invest in a new doormat.

30. Make sure the front door, storm door, screen door, etc. work well.

31. Make your entry appealing using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and by removing all unnecessary clutter.

32. Regardless of the season, tackle spring-cleaning. Clean everything in your home from top to bottom!

33. Wash all windows - inside and out!

34. Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers to brighten the home.

35. Eliminate all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.

36. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors, putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps and paint.

37. Depersonalize and neutralize teenager's rooms.

38. Clean screens or shutters.

39. Paint all inside walls when possible. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright or dark walls.

40. All walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger.

41. Repair or replace any doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.

42. Repair, replace or resecure banisters and handrails when necessary.

43. Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs.

44. Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.

45. If there are signs of water or structural damage in any of your rooms, it may be necessary to obtain a structural engineer's report and a mold inspection report.

46. Replace any toilet seats if you cannot get them spotlessly clean or if they look old and worn. Make sure toilet seats are securely tightened.

47. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.

48. Replace the washers in faucets and remove rust stains from basins.

49. Water and prune all plants.

50. Use plants in transitional areas of your home between inside and out.

51. Get rid of dying plants.

52. Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires. They are probably not installed to code and will be an issue for most buyers.

53. Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see such as walk-in-closets, pantries, etc.

54. Close all other closet doors and cabinets. Don’t leave them ajar.

55. Make the most of your storage potential.

56. Organize your storage spaces.

57. Keep the yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered at all times!

58. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash bins, etc. from the yard.

59. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed.

60. Lawns and gardens should be weeded at all times.

61. Use flowering plants to dress the yard, walkways, and patio.

62. All hoses and garden equipment should be neatly rolled up out of sight.

63. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or repainted if necessary.

64. Ant mounds, wasp nests, spider webs and snails should be removed and kept under control.

65. Mailboxes should be evaluated with a critical eye.

66. Paint and repair the mailbox or replace it if necessary.

67. Make all those minor repairs to the exterior.

68. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition.

69. Paint all entrance doors.

70. Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace if the color has faded.

71. Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.

72. Keep trashcans deodorized, covered and out of sight.

73. Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc.

74. Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting systems.

75. Take pictures of your flower garden and display these photos in your home.

76. Ensure any hanging plants cascade neatly and are suspended unobtrusively.

77. Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mail boxes, address numbers, etc.)

78. Clean, repair and paint all gutters and downspouts.

79. All roof shingles, tiles, etc. should be secured or replaced. If the roof leaks - FIX IT!

80. Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary and replace old garage springs.

81. Paint chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.

82. An investment in painting your home can really make the difference between "turning on" the buyer and sending up a red flag about the condition of the home.
    
    Some final things you can do to help your home sell quickly!

83. Arrive at an equitable asking price using an appraisal.

84. Don't be afraid to accept the first offer.

85. Never volunteer information!

86. Obtain a floor plan of your home, if possible.

87. Assemble house records, building permits and blueprints for buyer’s review.

88. Provide a map of the area and highlight special interest items.

89. Only consider written offers by lender-prequalified buyers.

90. Enlist the service of a professional real estate agent to market your home in local and international magazines and newspapers, create professional property brochures, and feature you home on top real estate web sites featuring professional photography and virtual tours.

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