Please find this checklist as a resource to you in speeding up the sale of your home:

Clean and De-clutter:

• Consider hiring a professional cleaning service once every few weeks while the house is on the market.
• Clean all curtains and blinds, purchase new ones if current treatments are damaged or dated.
• Dry clean your drapes.
• Open shades and curtains so the home is well lit during the showing.
• Clean windowsills.
• Keep screens clean and vacuumed.
• Doors should be oiled and squeak-free.
• Ensure all doors, cabinets, and drawers can open completely without blockage.
• Get rid of pet and/or food odors.
• Keep baseboards clean and dusted.
• Polish all interior woodwork.
• Keep stairways and corridors clear.
• Mop and sweep all floors.
• Organize closets and cabinets, packing away items that are not essential to your everyday life.
• Keep bookshelves and entertainment units neatly organized.
• Dust shelves and furniture.
• Stow away newspapers, magazines, books, games, toys, and videos.
• Vacuum upholstered furniture, wipe down leather or vinyl.
• Sweep fireplaces.
• Wipe down ceiling fan blades.
• Make beds.
• Water houseplants.
• Clear clutter blocking access to the furnace, electrical box, and laundry room.
• Remove unnecessary articles which have accumulated in basements, utility rooms, and storage areas.
• Clean the garage-remove oil stains from the floors, straighten tools and other equipment.
• Exterminate any insect problems.

Kitchen and Bath:

• Appliances should be cleaned inside and out.
• If appliances are included in the sale of your home, make sure they are operating and have proper documentation such as warranties and repair information.
• Replace any appliances that are dated or not functioning.
• Remove appliances from kitchen counters to give a look of spaciousness.
• Colorful curtains, in harmony with countertops and floors, add warmth to kitchens.
• Clean the inside of all kitchen and bathroom cabinets and neatly organize items on shelves.
• Stow away kitchen sponges and dish towels.
• Open a window or run a fan to remove cooking odors.
• Stow away laundry.
• Empty trash cans, recycling bins, and ashtrays.
• Keep shower curtains fresh and free from mildew.
• Wipe wet shower stalls and bath tubs.
• Make sure sinks are clean and stain-free.
• Make bathrooms sparkle-sinks, toilets, and tubs should be immaculate.
• Replace any missing or damaged tiles.
• Clean tile grout so it’s stain-free.
• Re-touch or repaint if the color is dated or the paint quality is poor.
• Repair damaged countertops, sinks, and tubs.
• Make sure there are no leaky faucets.
• Re-caulk damaged caulk on shower, sinks, tubs, and toilets.
• Paint, touch-up, or refinish cabinetry.
• Tighten or replace loose doorknobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers, and wobbly hinges.
• Replace the toilet seat.
• New towels are an excellent investment.

Interior Painting:

• Badly faded walls or worn woodwork reduce appeal. Selective painting will help to add a fresh look.
• Add new wallpaper if the current wallpaper is torn or withered.
• Repaint worn or stained interior walls.
• Make sure that cracks in the ceiling or walls are repaired.
• Paint window frames if necessary.
• Tone down bright room colors by painting them white or neutral.
• Consider whitewashing dark paneling.
• Brighten dull basements and storage areas by painting the walls a light color.

Carpet and Flooring:

• Do not sweep things under a rug or carpet. The carpet or rug should lay flat on the floor.
• Make sure the carpets are vacuumed and free of pet hair.
• If you have pets, consider hiring a professional to deodorize your carpets.
• Replace any worn carpet or damaged linoleum/tiles.
• If needed, install new neutral colored carpet with a thick padding so prospective buyers feel comfortable as they walk on your floors.
• If your home has hardwood floors with room-sized rugs, get the hardwood into its best condition with fresh, non-slip floor polish or other coatings to make it shine.
• If you choose to replace a linoleum floor, choose a neutral color that will have wide appeal.
• Make sure carpets are secure. Stretch and tack down any loose or curling carpet.
• Replace worn out vent covers.

Plumbing and Electrical:

• All drains should be clean and free-flowing.
• Make sure all faucets are in good working order.
• All toilets should be in good working order.
• Clean or replace old plumbing fixtures.
• Have your well or septic tank inspected and repaired if necessary.
• Hire a plumber to replace badly rusted and corroded pipes.
• Repair a broken doorbell.
• Inspect, clean, and change the furnace filter.
• Make sure all smoke and burglar alarms are functional.
• Service the sprinkler system.
• Check all light bulbs.
• Wipe all light fixtures with a rag and cleaning solution.
• Clean all switch plates.
• Add a high watt bulb to basements and storage areas.
• Replace burned out bulbs and broken electrical sockets.
• Make sure all outdoor lighting is in good working order.
• Turn on the porch light and outdoor lighting at night.

Exterior Home and Yard:

• Clean the entryway carefully; it creates the buyer’s first impression of your home.
• Clean or purchase new front door accessories.
• Polish the doorknob.
• Remove rust from the railing.
• Sweep sidewalks.
• Replace the “Welcome” mat.
• Add colorful plants or flowers near the front door and porch.
• Water container flowers.
• Keep the lawn and landscaping trimmed.
• Prune trees and bushes.
• Rake fallen leaves.
• Pull weeds and dead plants/flowers.
• Fix cracks in the driveway and entry walkway.
• Replace broken gutters or missing downspouts.
• Reseal the deck and repair broken boards.
• Repair the roof and replace missing or damaged shingles.
• Touch-up peeling paint, window frames, porches, and shutters.
• Repaint the entire exterior if paint is drab or peeling.
• Paint the door and doorframe.
• Paint exterior fixtures.
• Paint the mailbox.
• Paint or re-stain the fence if it is peeling or dirty.
• Paint over any rust spots or streaks on downspouts.
• Paint window ledges.
• Repair holes in gutters and any separation from eaves.
• If you have a patio awning, make sure it is free of debris and damage.
• Keep firewood neatly stacked.
• Keep the trash area clean.
• Remove unnecessary items such as gardening equipment.
• Clean the skylight for leaves and other debris.
• Hose down the exterior to eliminate dust and cobwebs.
• Move cars if too many are parked out front.