Get Your Home Ready to Sell
Checklist

Getting your home ready to sell.

Follow the list but feel free to add everything that you see.

OUTSIDE

• Tend to your lawn and yard in general; mow it, weed it, and fertilize it if necessary. If you have dead patches, re-seed or re-sod.
• Prune and trim trees and bushes; clear out all the dead stuff and make sure they look alive.
• Declutter the exterior areas of your home; stow personal belongings out of sight.
• Tidy, clean and arrange outdoor furniture.
• Add colorful accents through flower pots and other decor to brighten up the exterior.
• Pressure wash your home exterior as well as dirty/stained concrete.
• Re-stain wooden decks and patios as required.
• Repaint exterior siding if needed.
• Make sure your outside lights work; replace any bulbs if need be and clean fixtures of dirt.
• Make sure the doors are in good condition with no squeaking door hinges.
• Patch and paint any doors if they appear weathered or damaged.
• Fix cracked concrete or asphalt on walkways and sidewalks.
• Clean debris from gutters and roofs which can be hazardous for visitors.

WHOLE HOUSE

• Lube squeaky doors, cabinets and windows with some WD40 or similar.
• Clean mirrors, light switches, handles, accessory lights and baseboards.
• Wipe down walls with mild (test behind the couch) cleaner.
• Dust window treatments, fans, lights, lampshades, etc.
• Organize closets and make neat stacks.
• Use colorful plants to brighten things up.
• Remove smelly odors; put pet stuff outside or in the garage.

Look for ways to improve readiness to sell.

Garage

• Do a complete cleaning.
• Repaint garage door if required, (think about the floor too).
• Ensure the garage door mechanism is in good working order.
• Pack anything you can live without and store it out of sight.
• Remove junk, old tools and other clutter which isn’t needed.
• Organize your belongings in a neat fashion.

Bathrooms

• Clean toilets, sinks and bathtubs/shower thoroughly.
• Remove all stains from all surfaces.
• Clean/Replace shower curtains.
• Replace old looking mats.
• Leave fresh soap and toilet paper.
• Put all toiletries away.
• Clean exhaust fan.
• Hide garbage cans and cleaning supplies.
• Fold towels on the rack neatly.
• Replace caulking/grout to make the sink/shower look new.
• Purchase new towels if necessary.
• Clean/organize drawers and storage cabinets.
• Coordinate linens by colors.

Ready to sell means ready to be bought. Is it?

Kitchen

• Store any unnecessary appliances out of sight.
• Thoroughly clean every nook and cranny of the kitchen.
• Clean visible appliances inside and out.
• Clean kitchen backsplash if required.
• Clean exhaust fan hood.
• Remove all items from countertops.
• Hide personal items such as family photos and bills.
• Leave a fresh soap jar for the sink.
• Remove fridge clutter such as magnets.
• Deep clean inside the refrigerator.
• Throw out the garbage.
• Organize the pantry to look neat and tidy.
• Keep all mops, brooms, vacuums, etc. out of sight.

• Keep the dining table clear; only one center piece art, plant or flower.
• Remove extra chairs from the table and dining area
• Remove extra sections of the table and make the room larger.
• The table should have four to six chairs max.
• Keep any glass cabinetry and storage shelves clean and tidy.
• Clean the floor thoroughly and remove any stains with stain remover.

• Make beds on a daily basis.
• Organize clothes in closet; color code if possible.
• Clear off bedside tables, dressers and shelves.
• Vacuum floor and window sills.
• Remove all personal belongings.
• Keep closet doors closed for showings.
• Remove all wall decorations except for tasteful pieces.
• Repair any holes and damage to baseboards, drywall and ceiling.

• Put away soap and other cleaning supplies, hidden from sight if possible.
• Keep all surfaces clean and empty.
• Clean floors, countertops and sink thoroughly.
• Remove dirty clothing; store in washer/dryer if required.
• Clean out storage cabinets, shelves and closets.