First
impressions really count with home buyers. A small investment in
time and effort can provide a BIG advantage when your home is shown
to prospective buyers.Here are some suggestions for preparing your
home for showing
GENERAL
-House
exterior in good repair.
-House number easy to see.
-Eavestroughs, down spouts and soffits painted and in good repair.
-Garage/carport clean and tidy.
-Cracked or broken window panes replaced.
Depending
on the season
-Lawns
cut and raked; hedges and shrubs trimmed;garden weeded and edged.
-Leaves raked; walks swept; decks and patios cleared of leaves and
debris.
-Snow and ice cleared; walkways sanded or salted.
THE
FRONT DOOR
-Doorbell
works.
-Hardware in good repair.
-Porch and foyer clean and tidy.
INTERIOR
MAINTENANCE
-Cracked
plaster repaired.
-Chipped paint touched up.
-Door knobs and cupboard latches tight.
-Furnace wiped down and cleaned.
-Burned out light bulbs replaced.
-Squeaky doors oiled.
BATHROOMS
-Mirrors,
fixtures and taps cleaned and polished.
-Leaky taps and toilets repaired.
-Seals around tubs and basins in good repair.
-Floors cleaned, waste containers emptied
-Inside of cupboards and cabinets clean and tidy.
-Towels clean and matching.
-Clutter put away.
KITCHEN
-Sinks
and taps cleaned and polished.
-Appliances cleaned.
-Countertops clear and polished.
-Inside of cupboards and cabinets clean and tidy.
-Small appliances put away.
-Clutter put away.
CREATING
A BUYING ATMOSPHERE
-All
lights turned on.
-Air conditioner turned on in warm weather.
-Fireplace lit in cooler weather.
-Closets neat and tidy.
-Hall and stairs cleared of clutter.
-Drapes opened during daylight.
-Background music played quietly.
-Carpets freshly vacuumed.
Brian
Elder,
Real Estate Agent, Toronto
416-921-1112
