3. Preparing the Interior
Once you have the "curb appeal" taken care of, it's time to head inside and prepare the inside as well. Again, get some unbiased opinions of what should be changed, what should be cleared out and put in storage, and what should be emphasized. You have a potential buyer's interest if you got them inside to look around... don't lose them now.
☑ Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
☑ Hiring a professional cleaning service once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
☑ Removing the less frequently used, even daily used, items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, make these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
☑ If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled, or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
☑ Checking for cracks, leaks, and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
☑ Repairing cracks, holes, or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
☑ Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork.
☑ Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems.
☑ Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads.
☑ Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
☑ Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
