Tips for Every Room In the House

    Give the house a real “once over” cleaning.  Clean it from top to bottom.  Clean houses have a competitive edge over dirty houses.

    Let some air in.  Get a fresh breeze going to completely air out the house and get rid of any “stale” odors you may not even notice.  Springtime fresh!

    Start packing now.  Pack up everything you don’t use right now, put it in boxes and store the boxes out of the house if possible.

    Think model home.  Remove “extra” furniture and accessories.  Make it appear spacious, not crowded.  That favorite chair may have to go for now.

    Clean and deodorize carpets, paying special attention to high-traffic areas and stains that can be removed.

    Check all the light fixtures and lamps, replacing burned-out or low-light bulbs with bright white bulbs.  Make sure light switches are functional; consider updating them.

    If the couch, chairs or loveseat need some updating, try a neutral slip cover and add accent color with some throw pillows.

    Check for squeaky doors, and add a little WD-40 to remove the squeaks.

    If necessary, paint interior walls.  Paint is relatively cheap, and a great return on investment.  It doesn’t have to be white, but stay away from the other end of the spectrum.  Neutrals are usually best.

    Remove any peeled or torn wallpaper and borders.

    Check the window coverings to make sure the blinds work properly.  Clean them and keep them open to let in as much light as possible.

    Remove all valuables and make sure confidential documents are out of sight, and safe.

    Weed out the magazine racks and coffee table.  Only the most current magazines should be in view.

    Make sure the house smells its best at all times.  Keep cat boxes clean at all times, and preferably out of the house for showings.

    Do some plant and flower triage, removing the ones that aren’t going to make it.  Clean the leaves of the healthy ones and make sure they’re watered and looking great.

     Let the buyers see their lives in your house…not yours.  Store excess family photos, the “wall of fame” and anything that is too much a reflection of YOUR life.  We want them to focus on what their life would be like in their new home, not the museum of your life.

     Put the bookshelves on a diet.  Pack up most of the books on your shelf, leaving only the larger books and lots of room on the shelves.  Overcrowded bookshelves shrink the appearance of a room.