Well-polished homes sell faster and for a higher price. Buyers are more comfortable in buying a well cared for home since if what they outwardly see is maintained, they most probably what they cannot see is also maintained.

In getting your home ready to sell, you must consider it as a product about to go on the market, where it would probably be competing with brand new houses. It has to show well in the buyer’s eye.

Here are some basic steps in getting your home ready to sell:

1. Check your house’s curb appeal. Before you put your house on the market, maximize its exterior. Take time to enhance its curb appeal by keeping the lawn well-trimmed, the steps, walkways and patios checked for cracks or crumbling, align and clean gutters, check windows and doors for peeling paint and replace or repair damaged roof shingles.

2. Keep the home interior neat and clean. Get clutter out of sight, make sure the carpets are clean and floors are polished and scrubbed. Ensure that the walls are clean and freshly painted.

3. See to it that all your lights are working well and cobwebs free. Remove family pictures since your aim is to help prospective homebuyers to get a feel of the house as their own.

3. Remove infrequently used items from your closets, kitchen counters and attics to make these areas more spacious and inviting. It may be a good idea to hold a garage sale since you do not actually plan to bring everything when you move.

4. Check for leaks, cracks or signs of dampness in your basement and the attic. Repair damage, holes or cracks to wallboard, paint, wallpaper and tiles. Make sure you repair immediately any cracked or broken windowpanes and moldings. Inspect the plumbing, the cooling and heating and the alarm systems.

5. Make sure your roof is in good condition. If climbing onto the roof is not appealing to you, you can do the inspection using binoculars, or better yet, hire the services of a professional to do the job for you and make the necessary repairs needed in your roof.

6. Examine your walls since its condition greatly affects the look of your home. Replace any old caulking. Make sure that the paint on your walls looks good. Do a repainting job if you see fading colors, peeling or cracked surfaces.

7. Ensure that the stairs are free from loose boards, loose or missing guards and handrails, ripped carpeting. Doors should open and shut properly. Check the windows to make sure that they are in good condition.

8. Clean your kitchen and all appliances including the oven. Clean greasy stove hood filter and make sure you clean the inside of your cabinets thoroughly. Your countertops should also be squeaky clean and clutter free. Repair or replace dripping faucets and remove anything from the top of your fridge including artworks and magnets.

9. Remove any rust stains from bathroom sinks, tubs and toilets. Get rid of mildew from the bathtubs and showers. You can also vacuum your fan grill. Clean mirrors, cupboard handles and light switch plates in bathrooms. You could consider installing a new 6-liter toilet. If you are using ceramic tile in the bathroom, make sure the grouting is clean and intact.

10. Do an inspection of the basement, ensure that there are no cracks, water seepage, crumbling concrete or mortar and rotting wood. Use a dehumidifier if your basement is musty or damp. You basement should also be clutter-free and well organized. Replace furnace filters and clean it.

11. Do not neglect your garage. It is one of the most important parts of your house. Get rid of old car parts, discarded bikes, broken tools, empty cans of paint and dozens of useless items accumulated in your garage. Your garage should also appear clutter-free and use cleaning solutions to remove oil stains from the floor.

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