|
Inside:
* Start with the basics. . .Make your bed every day. Do the dishes. Keep the kitchen sink shiny. Put away all the food
from each meal. Pick up the wet towels. Keep up with the laundry. Make the kids put away the toys (or do if for them if
they’re young). This is basic housekeeping, and should not be a surprise to anyone.
* Next begin on the clutter. You are selling your house, not your stuff. This is when the clutter must go, no matter how
much you love it. Start with photos and pack them all away. Buyers want to imagine their family in the house, not yours.
* Clean everything off the counters in the kitchen. Everything! No toasters, blenders, mixers, canisters, containers of
kitchen utensils, plants, cookbooks, etc. There will be some exceptions: once everything is clean you can place 3 items
back on the counters. Count the canister set as one item, count the utensil container as one item, and so on.
* Clean the counters in the bathroom. The only thing that should be left is the bar of soap in the soap dish, or the liquid
soap container. Tissues are also okay to leave out, if you put away the cute box cover (a plain, simple cover is okay).
* Continue through the house cleaning off all horizontal surfaces. Pack it way! Give it away! Throw it away! It all has
to go before the buyer will begin to see your house for the architecture, not for the items in it.
* Try to remove excess furniture from each room. Were you planning on not moving an item? Call up a donation center and
pass it along. Does in belong to someone else? Make them find a new home for it. You are looking to make each room spacious
and airy. Try to remove at least one furniture piece from each room.
* Open your curtains. Show off the views, let in the natural light, make your home sparkle. If possible, open curtains and
blinds all the way. If there is something unattractive outside the window, twist the binds open or leave the sheers in place.
While we’re on the subject, make sure your windows and screens have been cleaned recently.
* Pack up half of what you own. Chances are you’re moving in the spring and will not need those heavy winter clothes
for several months—pack them up. You won’t need extra blankets for a while—pack them up. Your children
may decide to play with that train set some day, but they haven’t touched it in weeks—pack it up. Are you getting
the idea? If you don’t use it on a daily basis, pack it. We want your home to appear so spacious, that you don’t
own the belongings to fill it! This goes for all cupboards, drawers, closets and shelves.
|
