Prepare Your Home - Just Ask Amy

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	Amy White Stickel REALTOR, ASSOCIATE BROKER, GRI, ABR, GREEN and DAAR Top Producer Member of the Founder’s Club w/L & F Long & Foster Real Estate LICENSED IN VIRGINIA & WEST VA Top 5% Nationwide [Virginia Office] 46191 Westlake Drive Potomac Falls, VA 20165 Office: 304-229-0851 Cell: 703-980-1442 Fax: 304-229-0535	[West Virginia Office] 976 Foxcroft Ave. Martinsburg, WV 25401 (M. Margie Bartles, Broker) Office: 304-229-0851 Cell: 703-980-1442 Fax: 304-229-0535

Selling Services... Prepare Your Home...

Checklist for Preparing Your Home to Put on the Market

Curb Appeal

Mow and edge the lawn. Edge the lawn up the driveway and along the sidewalks for a finished appearance.
Trim all shrubbery, weed and remove low lying tree limbs.
Fertilize your lawn to make your grass look lush and green.
Replace downed shutters, gutters, and downspouts. Remove debris from gutters and downspouts.
Paint any trim work which is blistering.
Plant flowers in the front yard.
Repaint or restain the front door to create a pleasant first impression.
Replace torn screens from windows and front and back doors.
Remove mildew or moss from walls or walks with bleach and water or other cleaner.
Take stains off your driveway with cleanser or kitty litter.
Stack wood pile neatly.
Clean and repair patio and deck area.
Remove any outdoor furniture which is not in good repair.
Check for flat-fitting roof shingles.
Clean and remove any rust from any window air conditioning units.
Add a new front door mat and consider a seasonal door decoration.
Make sure doorbell is in good working order.

General Interior Tips

Paint only the rooms that really look fingerprinted, worn or faded.
Have the wall-to-wall carpeting and/or draperies cleaned.
Fix any dripping faucets. (Perhaps only a washer is needed.)
Replace old caulking around the bathtubs. (This can be done with one tube of new caulking and a putty knife.)
Spray lubricant on all squeaking doors, windows, closets and cabinets.
Place a solid deodorizer in each room and closet.
Store out-of-season clothes so the closets don't have a cluttered look.
Remove items from the floors in walk-in closets so that prospects can have easy access.
Stack all items in the garage and/or basement against the walls to show maximum floor space.
Vacuum the garage and/or basement floor and rafters.
If there are too many appliances on the kitchen counter, put some of them away to expose maximum counter space.
Pre-pack items that may clutter your home. (Extra toys in your child's room and knick-knacks may actually make your rooms appear smaller.)
Clean your home top to bottom. A professional cleaning service can do this for you. Charges are minimal when you consider how much more appealing your home will become.
Wash windows.
Clean fans and ventilating hoods.
Clean and polish floors.
Remove stains from toilets, tubs & sinks.
Secure jewelry, cash and other valuables.