Preparing your home for the Market

Take a fresh look at your home through the eyes of potential buyers. When your home is being marketed it should be merchandised just like any product that has to compete for a customers attention.

Inside:

1. Clear all unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house. If using groupings keep them in groups of 1's, 3's, or 5's.

2. Clear all unnecessary objects from the kitchen countertops. Clear refrigerator fronts of all messages, pictures, etc.

3. In the bathroom, remove any unnecessary items from countertops, tubs, shower stalls and commode tops. Group and contain items whenever possible. Towels should be displayed in two colors.

4. Rearrange and remove some furniture to create space and flow. Marketing a home requires a lifesyle that adapts to having the home on display.

5. Take down and rearrange any personal objects on the wall. Patch walls and apply paint to create a fresh look. Clean carpets and remove or clean drapes as needed. Clean windows inside and outside.

6. If you need room to store removed objects, use your garage or rent a storage unit. If the home is market-ready, it will shorten the time you need to pay for storage. You'll ultimately have to move your belongings when the home sells, and you can take the opportunity to organize and tackle the task in manageable time frames.

7. Leave some decorative interior lights on during the day. When showing the home, turn on all lights and lamps.

8. Consider playing soft, pleasing background music during showings.