One of the most daunting things about selling a home is the prospect of cleaning it up and making it look “just so” before potential buyers come traipsing in. In real estate we talk about curb appeal, but even more important now is internet appeal. A buyer might not ever pull up to your curb if he or she isn’t tantalized by the listing photos!
I always hire top-notch real estate photographers to showcase my sellers’ homes and all they offer, and I’ve compiled this to-do list of tasks from a few Portland area photographers I’ve worked with. Please use this list as a guide and a menu to choose from. Getting everything done just isn’t possible sometimes, and it’s not always worth prolonging listing your property just to wring out the last drip of perfection. That being said, in a seller’s market, many people do the least possible, so the extra effort can make your home stand out!
Kitchen
Remove dishrags, soaps, bottles, dishes, pet dishes, containers, small appliances
Remove spices, oils, pans
Remove magnets so the refrigerator is uncovered
Clean counters, stove-top, fridge doors, cabinets, garbage can
Dining Room
Clean tables & chairs
Add table leaflet if dining room is large enough and push in chairs
Optional: Place flowers in a vase on the table
Optional: Place a tablecloth if it looks nicer than the table
Living Room
Remove clothing, remote controls, magazines, books, knick-knacks, cables/cords
Clean table & chairs
Clean & dust TV surface
Bedrooms
Fluff pillows and make bed (smooth out wrinkles on the bedspread)
Put away clothes, shoes, toys, candles, books, clocks, rugs
Optional: Add new white bedding for a clean look
Bathrooms & Laundry Room
Remove scale, hamper, garbage can, toiletries, plunger, toilet brush, and air freshener
Remove everything from the counters
Clean mirrors and glass (shower doors)
Clean soap scum and stains from the shower
Hang matching clean towels
Clean exhaust fan
Replace toilet paper with a fresh roll
General
Make it easy for people to envision themselves living in the home. It usually helps to remove family photos and decor items that don’t have broad appeal and also store away books, DVDs, and CDs although books can be part of the decor if presented well.
Ensure all your light fixtures are working and have bright light bulbs that match each other (especially in the kitchen and bathrooms). You don’t want a light bulb to be burned out or for the same room to have both warm and cool light bulbs.
Repair visibly noticeable issues, such as patching drywall holes and painting areas needing touch-up.
As a next step for preparing for people to be in your home, begin dusting, removing pet hair from furniture and floors, and allowing fresh air to fill your home.
Exterior
Treat the roof and other surfaces for moss (only if you can do it far enough in advance so that powder isn’t still there on picture day)
Pressure wash concrete (driveway, walkways, patio – this makes a big difference!)
Clean up landscaping (trimming, weeding, etc.) – Bark dust, planting flowers, and more involved tasks could be part of a bigger conversation about what improvements to make before listing.
If you’re thinking about selling your house or want to go over the details including what improvements you could make to your house to maximize its sale price, write or call me!