How to Get Your Home Ready for Buyers? (1)

By Ugur Akinci, Ph.D.

If you're not a first-time home buyer, the chances are you're also trying to sell your existing home.

If you're not a first-time home buyer, the chances are you're also trying to sell your existing home.

• Replace your old mailbox if it's bent and needs a paint.
• Clean your windows to a sparkling shine.
• Power wash the deck, patio and external walls, if need be.
• Remove old broken cars from your drive way.
• Remove ALL old, broken and rusting appliances and objects from your front and back yard.
• Remove oil stains from your walkway and driveway and pave them fresh, if you can.
• Repaint the gutters, window sills, shutters and doors, if they need a new layer.
• Replace any missing roof shingles.
• Repair cracks in the chimney, walls, driveway, walkways.
• Remove or cover all garbage cans.

Inside, make sure there's no clutter.

• Remove all toys, old books and electronic gadgets, extra blankets and pillows, etc. to the attic or basement. Rooms with few objects look larger.
• Oil all creaky hinges.
• Repair all cracked doors and windows.
• Vacuum and wash the carpet.
• Make sure all the faucets are running and the toilet is flushing properly.
• Clean the bathroom to a sparkle. Make sure there is no dirt ring in the bathtub and the sink is absolutely clean.
• Wipe all the mirrors.
• Remove toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and medication bottles.

For additional suggestions on how to get your home ready for buyers, check out

Part 2