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1.
Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers
and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store
out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the
garage.
2.
Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the
interior.
3.
Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light
switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator.
A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers
that the home has been well cared for.
4.
Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate
cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5.
Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem
brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any
burnt-out bulbs.
6.
Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small
problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a
dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the
impression that the house isn’t well maintained.
7.
Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the
bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near
the entryway.
8.
Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if
applicable.
9.
Clean your gutters.
10.
Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
Based on an
article from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the National
Association of REALTORS®
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. | 
