How to Show your home

1. Uncluttering makes every room look larger and neater. Remove or store things you don’t need to create a comfortable and inviting feeling. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out, sell it or give it away.
   
   
2. Ensure the outside of your home is appealing by cutting and trimming the lawn and shrubs. Weed, water, and pick up after your pets. Re-sod as needed, clean stains from driveways and sidewalks and remove any extra vehicles.
   
   
3. In the kitchen, clear extra appliances and accessories from the counters. Remove extra dishes from your cupboards and pack them away. Clear areas used for memos and childrens' artwork.
   
   
4. Clean and organize your bathroom vanities, medicine cabinets, counters and linen closets. Pack and store all extra items.
   
   
5. Remove newspapers and magazines from coffee table and end tables. Remove and store any old furniture in need of repair and unhealthy plants and organize books in bookshelves.
   
   
6. Clear children play areas, organized and minimize closet items. Store extra toys, clothes, and boxes as well as excess furniture you have in bedroom areas.
   
   
7. Go through your tool shed, garage and basement to ensure that everything is picked up, stacked up and organized.
   
   
8. Cleaning makes your home easy to explore and gives the impression that it has been well cared for. Ensure every room smells as good as it looks, paying special attention to pet areas, nurseries and bathrooms.
   
   
9. Wash windows inside & out. Hose down the siding and brick work around the house.
   
   
10. Wipe out the inside of all cupboards and polish cabinets. Clean vents and exhaust hoods. Thoroughly clean all appliances inside and out.
    
    
11. Remove any stains, mold or damaged chalking around tubs, shower stalls and sinks. Clean and polish glass, mirrors and metal fixture.
    
    
12. Have all carpets cleaned or at minimum spot cleaned. Polish woodwork and furniture. Clean and polish light fixtures.
    
    
13. Ensure that drapes and blinds are clean and dust-free. Clean and polish all floors.
    
    
14. Repair or replace damaged window screens, glass or hardware. Repaint damaged trim areas around doors, windows, and roof areas.
    
    
15. Repair leaky faucets. Replace defective light bulbs, broken electrical outlets and switch plates. Fill and paint any cracks in ceilings and walls. Check all appliances, furnace, hot water heater and laundry connections and repair as needed.
    
    
16. Replace outdated wallpaper with neutral paint or new wallpaper. Replace pattern shower curtains and towels with news in neutral colors.
    
    
17. Consider painting your concrete basement and garage floors in neutral color. It will look newer and brighter this way.
    
    
18. Create a Showing Routine with your family, where everyone has their own areas to prepare for a showing. Make it a daily routine even if a showing is not scheduled.

Repairing eliminates potential objections before they arise. If you think it is too much trouble to fix, chances are the Buyers will too. Neutralizing helps Buyers visualize their own things in your home and picture themselves living there. Look through home decorating magazines for ideas that can give your home that appealing edge.