86 Ways to Make Your Home Show Better

If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a number of things you can do to improve the overall impression made by your home. But first, you must learn to look at your home through the eyes of the buyer. 

Here are some tips on things you should be looking for when evaluating your home through the eyes of the buyer. Most of the suggestions are no-cost or low-cost improvements and this early investment in your home’s appearance really pays off when selling the home. 

1. Open the draperies, pull up the shades and let in the sunlight.
2. Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night.
3. Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home more brightly — in its best light.
4. Remove all clutter from each room to visually enlarge them and create the impact of spaciousness.
5. If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.
6. Keep your home dusted and vacuumed at all times.
7. Have a family emergency “game plan” to get the home in order quickly, if necessary.
8. Air out your home one half hour before the showing if possible.
9. Lightly spray the room with air freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse and air out before the buyer arrives.
10. Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before the showing and place it an out of the way place in the kitchen.
11. Create a master “suite” effect in your decorating.
12. Make sure that beds are made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean.
13. Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.
14. Bathrooms should always be kept spotlessly clean.
15. Do not leave towels around and wipe down the shower areas after each use.
16. Re-caulk if the caulking is not sparkling white.
17. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings.
18. Set the scene by setting the table! Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand dining table.
19. The kitchen should always be kept spotlessly clean.
20. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.
21. Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
22. Shampoo all carpets and vacuum them daily.
23. If the carpet does not clean up well you should replace it.
24. Improve traffic flow through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness by removing unnecessary furniture, knick-knacks, hobby items, children’s items, etc. 
25. However, try to avoid creating a “sterile” looking environment. 
26. Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stove tops, walls, etc. 
27. Clean rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean in the winter. 
28. If you have numerous family photos put them away until your home is under contract. Prospective buyers will feel more like it can be their home if they aren’t aware of your family photo memories. 
29. Remove all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and especially from the storage area if you have one. 
30. Rent a storage area for these items or have a yard sale. 
31. Fix the front doorbell. 
32. Invest in a new doormat. 
33. Make sure the front door, storm doors, screen door, etc work wonderfully!
34. Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc and by removing all unnecessary clutter. 
35. Wash all windows, inside and out. 
36. Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies. 
37. Remove all posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps. 
38. Depersonalize teenagers’ rooms and decorate in a neutral temperament. 
39. Clean or paint the basement walls and floor. 
40. Paint any bright, bold, or dark inside walls with off-white paint (use two or more coats to cover). 
41. Repair or replace all doors, closet, doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease. 
42. Repair or replace banisters and handrails. 
43. Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors, or in showers/tubs. 
44. Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper. 
45. If the basement shows any signs of water or structural damage it may be necessary to obtain a structural engineer’s report. 
46. Replace all toilet bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean. 
47. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean. 
48. Replace the washers in faucets and remove rust stains from basins. 
49. Water and prune all plants. 
50. Use plants in transitional areas of your home between inside and out. 
51. Either get rid of dying plants or keep them out of sight. 
52. Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires. 
53. Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic, basement, etc. 
54. Close all other closet doors and cabinets. 
55. Make the most of your attic’s potential, if applicable. 
56. Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it out, and decorating if possible. 
57. Add visual appeal to stairways, especially in unfinished stairways to the basement. 
58. Keep the yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered at all times!
59. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash, etc from the yard. 
60. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed. 
61. Laws and gardens should be weeded at all times. 
62. Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkways, and patio. 
63. All hoses and garden equipment should be neatly out of sight. 
64. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or repainted if necessary. 
65. Firewood should be neatly stacked or out of sight. 
66. Mailboxes should be evaluated with a critical eye, paint, repair, or replace if necessary. 
67. Make all those minor repairs to the exterior. 
68. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios, and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition. 
69. Paint all entrance doors. 
70. Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace if the color has faded. Remove windsocks. 
71. Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants. 
72. Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc. 
73. Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting systems. 
74. Take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping now if you are planning to sell your home later in the season. 
75. Display these photos in your home in the winter. 
76. Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mailboxes, address numbers, etc). 
77. Clean, repair, and paint all gutters and downspouts. 
78. All roof shingles, tiles, etc should be secured or replaced. If the roof leaks — fix it!
79. Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary. 
80. Paint the chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.
81. An investment in painting your home can really make the difference between “turning on” the buyer and sending up a red flag about the condition of the home. 
82. Don't be afraid to accept the first offer.
83. Obtain a floor plan of your home if possible. 
84. Assemble house records for buyer perusal. 
85. Only consider written offers by lender-prequalified buyers. 
86. Enlist the services of a professional marketing agent such as The Condo Guy Team to market your home in trade magazines, newspapers, and with extensive online marketing. 

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