Seller's Guide

If needed, our team will take the time to walk through your home with you, room by room, to discuss possible improvements that you can do with little to no out of pocket expense. We will only suggest things that will help you decrease your days on market and increase your profit to help get top dollar for your home.

It’s easy to forget about all the bulbs that have burned out over the years, but you will want your home to be as bright as possible. Lighting makes an incredible difference. Please ensure every bulb is working, including Lamps, Pool lights, Landscaping Lights and the Light over your stove. We will have all of these on for photo day. – For a crisp, natural light that makes your home’s photos stand out from the competition, we recommend replacing dim or yellow bulbs with 4000K (Neutral White) LED light bulbs. This tone matches natural daylight, keeping trim crisp, showing true wall colors, and ensuring your listing looks bright and inviting online.

A big part of the adventure you’re about to embark on involves reducing clutter. (You can find free boxes on local FB Neighborhood pages.) Think of it as getting a head start on moving. You’ll want your home clutter free so the new owner can picture themselves living there. Box up anything you are not using. Organize closetes and pantries. Think of your last visit to a model home. Less is more.

Consider storing any boxes, clutter, bulky furniture pieces & toys in a storage unit or neatly in the garage. If your furniture is old, damaged and worn, it may be best to show that room empty. We’ll help put a plan together for any furniture that may need to be removed or relocated.

Prospective buyers and their agents will need to access your home for showings, so you’ll need an extra set of keys for the digital lockbox. Agent showings are typically scheduled through a great app called “ShowingTime”. Sellers and Listing Agents will receive a text notification for all showing requests. Agents will only access your home upon approved showing by you. Don’t worry, most showings are scheduled the day before.

Remove all the toiletries you have on display, counters should be clear. Think white and bright! Invest in some new white towels for the towel racks in all bathrooms, shower curtain should be light and neutral

Should be cleaned and organized. If you have a shelf above your washer and dryer with a bunch of stuff on it, consider getting 3 matching bins to hide your stuff in. Pintrest lanundry rooms for inspiration.

The Kitchen is one of the rooms buyers are most attracted to so if you’re looking to skip a room, this shouldn’t be it. You’ll want the counters to be as clear as possible. Clean inside the oven, microwave, fridge (and remove the magnets, photos and reminders). You may also want to clear the décor on top of the cabinets which can be distracting and collect dust. Consider investing in some fresh flowers and a beautiful white or clear bowl with some fresh fruit in it such as lemons.

The bedrooms should be inviting. That means more cleaning and decluttering and investing in a few props if needed. If you don’t already have one, invest in a neutral colored duvet cover or a fluffy white, down comforter (Amazon is a great resource). Think of your last visit to a luxury hotel, ensure all beds have a minimum of four billows with crisp white sheets. Remove any bulky furniture.

Take a close look at what you have not worn in over a year (including shoes). It may be a good idea to pack up those items or donate them. Less clothing hanging and folded on shelves will help make your closet appear larger.

Take care of any known leaks or plumbing issues. Update dated faucets. Switching out the kitchen faucet can be a low-priced option to freshen up your kitchen.

Clean the sofa and chairs and you may want to invest in some new light colored throw pillows. Hide the magazine rack and all the clutter that has accumulated. Hide the wires from your TV/Stereo/Speakers in all rooms, especially for photo and video day. Family photos are usually fine as long as there are only a few.

Remove the kids’ homework and the piles of stuff that may have accumulated on the dining room table. Clean up the hutch. Simple and clean is best. Table should have one simple centerpiece.

It’s a pain (and expensive) to store all the stuff you don’t really need. Don’t pack anything that you don’t plan to bring to the next house. Consider donating anything you do not want or things that you have not used in over a year including clothing and furniture. Have a garage sale or post items for sale or for free on local FB pages. The Hope Center House of refuge and the goodwill are also great options for donations.

Remember that most buyers will have an emotional reaction to your home within 15 seconds of entering it, so what they experience at the entrance is critical. You will want your entrance and front yard to be clean, de-cluttered and inviting. Paint your front door if needed, invest in fresh throw pillows or cushions on patio furniture, add fresh flowers to a pot, pull weeds, put away your hose. Check out Target for a fresh new affordable welcome mat and simple wreath. Power wash exterior and driveway if needed. Keep front porch swept before showings.

Ensure your yard is free of weeds, clean and inviting. If you have a pool ensure the water is clear and pool tile is clean.

A fresh coat of paint is one of the cheapest ways to freshen up your home. Bold colors are bound to be a urn-off to some buyers, so to appeal to the most people as possible, take the time to re-paint if needed. Kitchen and main living areas should have neutral colors. Light colors will help small rooms look bigger. Bedrooms can usually get away with bolder colors, our team will help you with those suggestions. Don’t forget about baseboards and ceilings—they might need some white paint. Popular color by Sherwin Williams that works great for most homes: “Stone Isle."

Make a list of all the little stuff that you’ve been avoiding repairing including the leaky faucet, the garbage disposal, the picture holes in the wall, ect. And complete before listing. If you aren’t handy yourself, bring in a handyman to take care of it. Replace air filters.

While you can do this final step yourself, we recommend bringing in professional cleaners who will make sure to clean all the spots you don’t. It may also be wise to keep a cleaning service going while your home is on the market to keep it as fresh as possible for showings.

Prospective buyers may not love your pets as much as you. Make a plan to have your pets out of the house for showings if possible. Remove all signs of pets for photo and video day (hide bowls, litter boxes, crates).

Most buyers won’t want to look at all your kids’ toys or finger painting works of art. Some toys are fine as long as they are organized. It may also help to store the extra toys in a hall closet for showings.

It’s important for home sellers to be honest with themselves about the smells curating in their home and take care of the root cause of the smell, rather than simply masking the smell. A clean smell and a deodorized smell are two different things. A strong scent can distract the buyers ability to make a decision. You may want to also limit cooking certain things that leave a strong odor before showings. Vanilla and citrus are some of the best scents. Essential oils are another great option.

There are certain situations where some light or full staging may be recommended. We will discuss this option with you in more detail during our walk-through.

When your home is ready, it’s time for the photographer and videographer to work their magic. This will happen a few days before you list your home for sale. Natural light is very important, plan to have all lights on and blinds up for this day. We like to shoot in the best lighting possible, if there is rain or severe clouds, we may need to reschedule the shoot. We promise that all of your hard work will be well worth it!

Take one final walk through all the rooms and adjust as necessary. Do you see anything that might distract or turn off a buyer?

Consider leaving some bottled water and snacks out for potential buyers with a note neatly on the kitchen counter. Buyers love this! Open blinds to let the natural light in. Turn light music and lights on if possible. Secure valuable items, including medication, cash and jewelry.

We’ve helped clients accomplish everything on the list in as little as four days. We are here to help every step of the way. We are a team and if you need any help, have questions or additional referrals we have you covered. 

Additional tips & tricks to save time when preparing your home for showings:

• Invest in small baskets with lids or small clear storage containers that can be stacked under the sink have proven to be extremely helpful for day to day living and quick clean up in preparation for showings. (think: brushes, hair products, hairdryers, makeup, facial products, toiletries ect.)

• Roll or fold towels with the folded edge facing you. This gives a spa like look.

• For cluttered shelves use matching cloth bins to maximize space and give a clean organized look.

• Keep a pack of pre-moistened disinfectant wipes stored under every bathroom sink. A 5-second swipe across the faucet, basin, and mirror removes water spots, toothpaste splatters, and stray hairs effortlessly before you head out.

• Avoid heavy floral sprays or plugin air fresheners right before a showing, which can trigger allergies or make buyers wonder what scent you are hiding. Instead, set HVAC fans to "On" or leave ceiling fans running on low speed to keep air circulating and fresh continuously. Additionally, put on a crockpot meal the day of the showing.