Your home will be more appealing and look larger if it’s neat and organized.  Go room to room and note what needs to be “de-cluttered” and cleaned.  Make a list for tackling the jobs one by one.  Spending a few hours a week will pay off.

* Remove piles of paper, mail, books, tapes, and collectibles from tables and other flat surfaces.  Move items from stairs, the tops of televisions and refrigerators.

* Closets and cabinets should only contain 80% of their capacity.  You may even want to reduce that percentage further.  Store off-season clothes and holiday decorations off site.  You may want to start packing now and store elsewhere.

* Sell or remove any furniture, plants or furnishings that may visually open up a room.  Limit the number of pictures on walls, tables, shelves, mantles. Remove throw rugs.

 *Clean out your carport or garage and basement. Organize tools, toys, boxes, and remove anything possible.  Your possessions obstruct the buyer’s view of your home.

* Cutback bushes and tree branches.  Weed gardens and patios.  Remove anything dead, and consider replacing.  Clean-out gutters. Cut, edge and trim your grass.  Fix broken shudders, screens, windows, mailbox, gates, fences, steps and the like.  Consider planting flowers.

* Consider a coat of neutral paint throughout your home.  Paint the front door.

* Deep clean as much as you can.  Dust from the floor to the ceiling.   Rent a steam cleaner or have your carpeting professionally cleaned.  Clean and tidy shelves and cabinets; consider new contact or lining paper.  Wash windows and glass surfaces inside and out if possible.  Re-grout tile, bath and kitchen fixtures.

* Clean ashes and wood from fireplace.  Clean permanent gas grills.

* Peruse your neighbor’s homes for unsightly trash or possessions that are visible from your home.  Their mess affects the value of your property.  Consider offering to help remove, if possible, or involve the local municipality for ordinance infractions.

* When leaving for a showing, open blinds and drapes.  Crate or remove pets and pick-up their toys, gates, yard waste etc. Turn on lights throughout your home. 

 For more information call Dana Tippit at 314-651-9900 

www.YourResidentialPartner.com