Getting the home ready

General Notes

First Impressions Matter

The first view that a person will get from any room is when they are standing in the doorway, so keep that perspective in mind when arranging furniture. You want to create a lasting impression from the moment that they walk in the room. Prospective buyers will spend more time viewing the room from the side where the door is located, so you want to create a lasting impression from that point of view.y do, how long they’ve been at it, and what got them to where they are.

Less Is More

A clean space is more appealing, so get rid of anything that is cluttering the room, and when you think you are done… continue working to get rid of a few more items in the room. If you include too many personal effects, such as photos and knickknacks, then it makes it more difficult for the buyer to imagine their own things in the room. Buyers want to see themselves living in your home.

Get Rid of the Grime

A quick wipe down to “clean” the house isn’t enough to get rid of the grime. Seems like common sense, but it’s surprising how much can show up in a photo. Make sure that the windows are spotless!

A Little Preparation Goes a Long Way

It is very important that you spend the time that is needed to make sure that your home is prepared so that the photographer has something to work with. A prepared home makes it much easier for the photographer to present the home with photos that will entice a prospective buyer to set up a showing.

Exterior preparation

Curb appeal matters, because buyers want their new home to look good on both the outside and inside. The exterior of the home is one of the first things that a person will look at when they are viewing the listing, so it is important that you cleanup around the outside of the house to make it look good.

The front yard is the most important, but don’t neglect the back yard. It won’t look natural to have front yard photos of a beautifully manicured lawn and flower beds, with a back yard that is in disarray.

Exterior tasks should include:

Get rid of weeds
Trim trees and overgrown shrubs. Lots of front view photos aren’t as good as they can be because overgrown trees and shrubs block the view
Mow the lawn and rake the leaves
Wrap up garden hoses and put them away in the garage or shed
Pick up any items that may be laying around the yard, such as garden tools, garbage cans, toys, empty pots or pots with dead plants
Cover dirt with mulch to make it look more attractive
Move cars out of the driveway
Sweep the porch and sidewalks
Remove covers from well-maintained grills and smokers; cover neglected ones
Open any outdoor umbrellas
If you have outdoor furniture, wipe it down and make sure that the cushions look clean and nice

Kitchen

Make sure that the counters are as open as possible. Get rid of extra small appliances that are sitting around, as well as stacks of paper or dishes
Clear the school notices, crayon drawings, and magnets off of the fridge.
Clear away dish racks, cutting boards, tea towels, hand and dish soap bottles, cleaning products, mops, brooms and garbage cans.
Add a little decoration with a nice bowl of fresh fruit or a vase of flowers.
Turn on any under-counter lighting and the stove light

Dining Room

Make sure the dining table is clean and the chairs are arranged neatly around the table
Consider adding a nice centerpiece on the table, such as bowl of fresh fruit or a floral arrangement
Remove clutter from china cabinet and buffet
If the china cabinet has a light, turn it on
Be sure the table is centered under the chandelier if possible
Optional: Set the table with nice dinnerware using decorative place settings

Living Room / Family Room

Make sure that the furniture is arranged to create a beautiful and comfortable space
If you have a nice coffee table book, set it out as decor on the table. However, you should remove any magazines, because they often look cluttery
If bookshelves are in the room, take out half of the books and arrange the remaining books in a nice pattern. Keep the nice, hardback and colorful books on the shelf, and remove the older books
Store the TV remotes, video game systems, DVDs, or any other cluttered electronic items
Try to arrange the electric cords so that they are out of sight as much as possible

Bedrooms

Move clutter and anything extra out of the room so that the space is as open as possible
Sometimes there are unique or usual decorations to match the personality of the child, particularly with teenager bedrooms. You want the buyer to imagine themselves as if they were in the room, and unusual themes in the bedrooms can be somewhat distracting, so these decorations may need to be eliminated
Make the bed using a nice bedspread and big, fluffy pillows that are neatly arranged at the head of the bed
Clear the nightstand of phone chargers, tissue boxes, lip balm, a glass of water, jewelry, or anything else that is kept at your bedside
If the closet is to be photographed, be sure it’s neatly organized and cleaned
For kid’s rooms, organize small toys into baskets or wicker bins; put away larger toys

Bathrooms

Everything should be moved off the counter, including makeup, razors, soap, toothbrushes, and any other beauty products
Remove the shampoo, soaps, washcloths, and baby toys from the showers and tubs
Trash cans, bathmats, laundry baskets, extra toilet paper, the toilet brush, and scales should also be moved out of the room.
Finish it off by closing the toilet, and hang fresh towels on the towel rails.