Preparing and Maintaining Your Property for Sale

Getting ready to market your property can be a daunting and often frustrating experience without a clear, well defined plan.

Here are some of the tasks we recommend in order to achieve success:

Concentrate on simple, least expensive prep work that is designed to bring the most return. Avoid tasks or projects that are not likely to get noticed.

#1 is Curb Appeal - How does the property look when you drive or walk up to it?
Clear all debris and clutter from sight
Keep the landscape free of excess weeds, tall grass, debris and excess vehicles. Relocate larger vehicles such as boats or RV’s during showings.Plant attractive flowers and plants in the entry area and front of property that is conducive to the season.

Paint - Interior and exterior if needed in neutral tones and ensure that no visible paint peeling or discoloration exists.
Maintain all exterior landscape and cut and water the lawn, plants, trees and shrubs regularly throughout the listing period.
Power wash all roof eaves, porches, decks and walkways to remove excess dirt, spider webs etc every 3-5 months if the market is slow to maintain a clean, well maintained appearance.
Clean windows, screens and window tracks.
Clean carpets, walls and area rugs prior to listing.
Check entire property exterior for standing water and any possible source of odor or pest generation.

Stage Interior if possible and practical - You can accomplish this relatively inexpensively if you use your own furnishings and accessories. Try to remember that “Less is More” in this area and clutter detracts from the positives inside your home.

Keep each room furnished in accordance with the size and shape of the room, taking into account the closet and walking space. Don’t put oversized pieces in smaller rooms, use twin beds in smaller rooms or futons.
Use plenty of attractive plants and flower arrangements to accent each area of the home, keeping curtains and blinds open to let in as much natural light as possible.

Kitchens, Baths and Master Suites - These rooms generally receive the majority of attention and should be clean, clutter and odor free at all times throughout the listing period. Make sure all stainless steel appliances are cleaned prior to showings.

Pets - Great family members, but often they can be a source of odor generation, so be very aware of the animals in your home, the possible odors created and take the necessary steps to eliminate odor sources regularly. Removal of pets during showings is highly recommended, or containment to one specific exterior area of the home if possible.

Pools / Spas - Keep them clean and free of algae. Cover pool and spas for showings if possible as an added safety measure for young children who may accompany parents at showings, or leave a notice with your realtor asking all potential buyers to be aware of them.

Lighting - Make sure all interior and exterior lights are operable and replace with fresh bulbs if needed.

Doors / Windows - Make sure all doors and windows can move freely open and closed, oil hinges for squeaks and tightness. Make sure all windows have screens, especially those above the first floor.

Flooring - Make sure all wood surfaces are dusted regularly and any tile grout is cleaned.

Furniture - Remove any furniture that appears excessively worn or stained.

This will get you well on your way to a successful sale of your property and effective communication between you and your agent can help avoid any disruption or unsightly elements, giving you the best perception possible.

In a healthy “Sellers” market, you may elect to repair items or undertake much more costly projects in order to prepare for a sale, however, it is important to be mindful of the current market conditions before you decide how large your punch list should be.
Do the easy things first, step back and assess as if you were a potential buyer, what things do you see? Like? Dislike?

We recommend that you keep your budget for preparations and maintenance in line with your projected sales price and avoid all projects that cannot be fully recovered.