Competition can be fierce in the real estate market. You have a house to sell before you can move on but so do hundreds of other owners. What will make your house "the chosen one?" Put the best face possible on your home.

Start with the exterior. Do a drive-by of your own home; approach your home as a prospective buyer might. What is its first impression? Peeling paint, no exterior lighting, dead bushes and spent flowers, dead tree limbs, leaves on the lawn and walks, or toys, cars, and equipment cluttering up the grounds?

Start at the curb. Make sure the lawns, walks, flower beds, bushes and trees are cleaned up; mulch the flower beds. If you are coming into the spring market, do some cheerful planting around the house. Touch up peeling paint on the exterior. Repair or remove damaged shutters. Put a fresh coat of cheerful paint on your front and rear doors. Hang a tasteful welcoming wreath on the door. Be sure your exterior lighting allows prospective buyers and their realtor safe and comfortable access.

On the interior of your home, do a survey, and un-clutter. Over-crowded rooms seem smaller and are distracting to a buyer. Clean up and clean out. Do this on a room by room basis.

In the winter months, since it is dark earlier and many days are overcast, be sure to have all rooms well lit. There is something about interior lighting; especially if there's not natural outside light, that warms the spirit and says welcome to your new home. For daytime showings, be sure window coverings are open to allow in as much natural light as possible.

Be sure your home is clean and have all the windows washed inside and out-sparkling windows are cheerful.

If you are going to have a yard sale before you move, do it before you put your home on the market. This will help you to dispose of items cluttering up the house, basement and garage. Remember this process not only helps you sell your home but will make your move more efficient.

Basements are a special source of interest to buyers. Basements contain some of the most important elements of a home-the heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, hot water heaters, water treatment systems, and often tell the tale of whether there is any water coming into the house. Be sure to clean out, freshen up - a coat of white paint on the walls of an unfinished basement, light gray or beige paint on a cement floor and good ceiling lights so the buyers don't feel they are going into a dungeon.                                

                                                                         CONSIDERING THE SERVICES OF STAGERS?........

CHECKLIST TO PREPARE YOUR HOME

INSIDE

• Does the door bell works?

• Does it smells fresh?  If not, use air freshener, carpet powder, or scented candles. Don’t overdo it! Avoid cooking curry, fish or spicy food that might cause lingering odour  Pay attention to scents.      

• Clear and clean all countertops and tabletops.

• Quick dust all flat surfaces, wood, tile, and vinyl floors.

• Vacuum all carpets.

• Put away all toys, clothes, newspapers, mail, etc.

• Make all beds.

• Open up curtains and shades, turn on lights in dark areas.

• Clean all glass and mirrors.

OUTSIDE

• Clean off front porch or entry way.

• Close your garage door.

• Step out to the curb and take a look at your home. Does anything look out of place? Pick up and put away any toys, tools, bikes, garbage cans, etc.

• Mow the lawn, trim trees and shrubs away from the house.  You can't sell a house if you can't see it.

• Check verandah lights.  House numbers faded? Windows clean?

• Clear patios or decks of planters, flower pots, charcoal or barbeques.

• Touch up outdoor paintwork.

LIVING ROOM

• Discard worn furniture and move extra to storage area. Too much furniture makes rooms look small. 

  Visit a model home to get decorating ideas.  

  Clear away all magazines, books, and unnecessary objects from furniture throughout the house.

  Take down pictures that hide walls. Patch nail holes and paint.

  Add lamps and lighting if dark.

  Open curtains. Clear window  ledges of all objects to give a nice glimpse inside and out.

  Set out fresh flowers.

   KITCHEN

• Are all appliances in good working condition?  Professionally clean oven and stove.

  Replace broken appliances, and repair squeaks, drips, or binds in cabinet drawers.

  Clean all appliances inside and out until they are spotless. Wax and polish floors.

  Discard old food and leftovers from refrigerator.

  Clean refrigerator front of messages, pictures and magnets.

  Clear all magazines, small appliances, and cookware from counter tops.

  If it hasn’t been used for months...put it away.

  Repaid drawers, sliding doors etc. that won't open or close properly.

    BATHROOMS

• Remove any unnecessary items from counter tops, tubs, and commode. Put away as much as possible, and make every bathroom look like a “guest bathroom.”

• Sink, commode, bathtub, tile, and shower curtain should look immaculate, no soap film or hair.

• Fix leaky faucets, rust stains and faulty plumbing that may squeak or bind.

• Caulk and grout tile. Bleach discolored grout.

• Replace or remove any wallpaper that isn’t “conservative.”

• Coordinate towels to one or two colors only.

• Place softer bulbs in bathroom fixtures and scented flower arrangement on vanity top.  Make these rooms sparkle.

    FAMILY ROOM

• Clean fireplace.

• Replace carpet if it’s a loud color. (I know it costs money, but you’ll get it back at the settlement).

• Remove all magazines, books, toys and worn furnishings that might influence a buyer’s feeling about the room.

• Create an easy-going relaxed atmosphere in your family room. This is where families spend their time so make it look good.

     MASTER BEDROOM

• This is the second most important-to-be-appealing room in a home. (After the kitchen, and before the family room and garage)

• Define areas, sleeping, dressing, and sitting by furniture arrangement. Try to have the bedroom look as simply furnished as possible.

• Be sure that all clothes are hanging up, not laying out in room.

• Make closets more appealing by storing off-season clothes elsewhere. Go ahead and pack them up since you’re moving away.

     CHILDREN'S BEDROOMS

• Here’s the challenge: ask children and teenagers to help by thoroughly cleaning up their rooms, removing all posters, questionable photographs. Low lighting and clutter make bedrooms look smaller than they are.

• Patch and paint walls if necessary.

• Open curtains.

      CLOSETS

• Make them look bigger.

• Make closets more appealing by storing off season clothes elsewhere.  Go ahead and pack them up since you're moving away. Show that your home has ample closet space.

     BASEMENT

• A finished basement is great! Just follow the same guidelines given in preparing the family room.

•  If unfinished, make sure concrete floor is swept and clean.

• Seal or paint concrete floors. (Battleship grey)

• Clean water heater, change filters, and put strong light bulbs in fixtures.

• Put away all unnecessary articles to show large space in the basement.

       GARAGE

• The perfect garage contains only cars. But if this is not possible, clean up, fix up, sell or toss unneeded items. (This may be your only opportunity).

• Clean and seal cement floor.

• Neatly stack tools and clean up work bench and tidy up storage shelf areas.