1. Reduce Clutter

• Sort through closets, drawers, and storage areas.
• Toss what you can, organize the rest. If you have too much furniture in your home, put some pieces in storage to make a better first impression.
• Organize the kitchen. Clear off the counters. Add drawer organizers to suggest efficient use of space. Store seldom-used small appliances and large baking pans.

2. Make Minor Repairs

• Lubricate squeaky hinges, replace filters, secure loose shingles, tighten loose banisters, repair doors, door knobs and remove stains
• Fix leaky faucets, repair cabinet doors/loose knobs, clean out clogged drains
• Clean curtains and draperies, shampoo rugs and wax floors

3. Check that all lighting fixtures work

• Add new bulbs with the highest wattage allowed for each fixture to make your room seem brighter.

4. Clean

Not only should your home be spotless, it must be clean.

• Apply elbow grease and strong cleansers to surfaces inside and outside your home.
• Consider painting if cleaning doesn’t do the job.

5. Sparkling Windows

Sparkling windows are a signal to buyers that you care about your home.

• Clean your interior and exterior windows including the window sills.
• Repair cracked panes, torn screens broken sashes, and ropes or chords.
• Whenever your home is being shown, open your curtains to let the light in (especially if the view is nice).
• Clean all curtains and draperies

6. Carpeting

Carpeting has a major impact on the look of your home.

• Carpet should be shampooed.
• Consider replacing if it is badly worn, outdated or stained.

7. Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors add beauty and value of a home and deserve special attention.

• If you live in an older home, check for hardwood floors under the carpeting. You may be able to pull up the carpeting and refinished by simply cleaning the floors to create a classic fresh look.

8. Exterminate

One bug, dead or alive, can make a bad impression on a buyer.

• Call a professional to rid your home of insects
• Allow time for the smell of the pesticide to disappear before showing your home.
• Get rid of any evidence of traps before showings as well.

9. Paint

• Choose light, neutral colors such as beige, white, off-white, or grey paints. These options are easier on the eye and make the space seem like a blank canvas.
• If you have dated wallpaper, remove the paper and paint the walls.

10. Update the bathrooms

• If cleaning and painting can’t make a life-less bath dynamite, consider replacing the vanity and sink, installing a new floor covering, or resurfacing a stained bathtub.
• Even a new shower curtain or toilet seat can work wonders.

11. Repair a wet basement

• as applicable
• The problem can be as easy as to fix as installing covers over window wells.
• If the moisture problems calls for more extensive repairs and you are not able to make them, be prepared to explain the problem to the buyer.
• Don’t cover up the sigs of a wet basement.

12. Gussy up the front entrance

• A coat of paint on the door, brass accents such as house numbers, a door knob, a kick plate, pruned bushes, and blooming plants can help your home make a good first impression.
• Install outdoor lighting that properly illuminates your entrances, walkways, and driveway.
• Turn on all outdoor lights when your home is being shown.

13. Update Wallpaper

• If you have dated wallpaper, remove the paper and paint the walls.

14. Clean Gutters & Downspouts

• Straighten and paint if necessary

15. Declutter Outside

• If you have a deck, patio, porches or other outdoor entertainment area, make the most of them.
• Keep these areas as well as your backyard clean and clutter-free.
• Put debris in covered trash cans.

16. Friendly Welcome

• Put potted flowering plants by the front door.
• Give shutters a fresh coat of paint.
• A window box full of flowers is an inexpensive way to add an accent color to your home’s exterior.
• Get a new welcome mat.

17. Fix Exterior

• Make sure the exterior paint and siding is in good condition.
• Make sure roof, gutters and spouts are in good repair.
• Repair a leaky roof, and then paint over any water marks on the ceiling.
• Don’t paint to hide a problem, always fix and then paint.

18. Pretty up the front yard

• Repair cracks and pull weeds from walkways and driveway.
• Edge between your lawn, driveway and walkways.
• Put fresh mulch around trees, shrubs and hedges.

19. Pick up items in the yard

• Pick up tools and toys in the yard.
• Put garbage cans in the garage and shut the door.
• Make sure the garage is swept.
• Try to remove any stains on the floor.

20. Do a fresh wash outside

• Hose down the walkway and driveway at least once a week.