47 Easy Ways to Make Your Home Sell Faster

Suggestions and ideas to improve your home's appearance and help you prepare to sell it faster!

1. Open the draperies, pull up the shades, and let in the sunlight.
2. Create a positive mood.  Turn all all lights, day or night, and install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly.
3. Remove clutter from each room to visually enlarge them.
4. If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.
5. Keep your home dusted and vaccuumed at all times.
6. Replace the carpet it it does not clean up well.
7. Have a family "game plam" to get the home in order quickly if necessary.
8. Air out your home for one-half hour before showings, if possible.
9. Lightly spray the house with air freshener so that that it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.  
10. Put family photos in storage
11. Improve traffic flow through every room by removing unnecessary furniture
12. Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorative accetions and removing unnecessary furniture
13. Putty over and paint any nail holes or other mishaps in the walls.
14. Pain all interior walls a neutral color to brighten the home and make it look larger.
15. Repair or replace any loose or damaged wallpaper.
16. Clean all light bulbs and light fixtures to brighten the home.
17. Wash all windows inside and out.
18. Use plants in transitional areas of your house.
19. Make the most of your attic's potential.
20. Remove and/or hide excess extension cords and exposed wires.
21. Open doors to areas you want potential buyers to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attics, etc.
22. Remove all smoke and pet odors.
23. Repair or replace banisters and handrails.
24. Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before a showing and place it in an out-of-the-way place.
25. Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
26. The kitchen and bathrooms should always be spotlessly clean.
27. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.
28. Create a master suite effect in your decorating.
29. Depersonalize bedrooms and decorate in a neutral scheme.
30. Make sure that the beds are made and the linens are clean.
31. Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.
32. Do not leave towels around and wipe down sinks and shower areas after each use.
33. Re-caulk the tub if the caulk is not sparkling white.
34. Repair or replace broken tiles in the shower/tub
35. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean
36. Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps
37. Keep the yard mowed and raked at all times.
38. Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkway and patio
39. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, and trash from the yard.
40. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios, and other extensions of the house should kept uncluttered, swept, and in good condition
41. Paint all entrance doors
42. Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary
43. Clean and shine all hardware and accessories indoors and out (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mail box, address numbers, etc.)
44. Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned
45. Use a new doormat
46. Be sure the front doorbell is in good working order
47. Be sure the front door and screen door works perfectly