The Details: Foyer/Entry Checklist If you are like most people, you enter your home through a side or garage entry so take a special look at the entry point into your home from a buyer's perspective. Check doors to ensure they open and close properly, without squeaking. A little WD40 can help doors operate smoothly and quietly! Paint your front door if it even remotely needs it. Test doorknobs and locks to ensure they turn easily. Clean and polish knobs, locks, kick plates and sidelight windows. Test exterior and interior lights to ensure they are operational. Replace dim or burnt-out bulbs with the highest watt bulb allowed by the fixture. Purchase a new welcome mat or get rid of it all together. Clear personal effects including umbrellas, sports gear, shoes, gloves, coats, etc. from the entry. Remove off-season outerwear and equipment from coat closets to make it appear larger.

The Details: Living / Great / Family / Den / Rec Room Checklist The six most important words for these three rooms are: no clutter, no clutter, no clutter! Remove excess furniture and store off-sit to improve traffic flow and make the room appear larger than it actually is. If bookshelves, curio cabinets, entertainment centers and the like are overflowing with personal items, pare it down. Minimize toys except in the rec room. They are distracting and can be dangerous underfoot. If one of these rooms is the one you live in the most, make it look inviting but not overly lived in. Try a slip cover or new throw pillows to a sofa.

The Details: Kitchen Checklist Kitchens sell homes! Don't distract prospective buyers with dirty dishes, cluttered countertops and grubby floors. Memorize this: Orderly = More Space in the mind of a buyer. There's a clean, organized kitchen just waiting to emerge, so let's get started! Clean out your pantry cupboards. Put like items that are difficult to stack into baskets (example: teas, drink mixes, etc.; bagged cooking supplies like chocolate chips, coconut, raisins; bagged snacks like chip, pretzels, snack mixes. Consider putting all your baking staples into matching air-tight canisters (flour, white/brown/powdered sugar, corn meal, rice, etc.) Go through your dishes, glasses, cookware, storage containers, etc. Consider packing what you don't need. Think about pitching your collection of plastic cups and logo-ladden coffee mugs. And place all those pesky lids upright into a basket, then nest the plastic container to save space and give your cabinets an orderly look. Get rid of spoiling and expired food in the refrigerator (especially if the fridge stays). The smell won't help sell you house! Remove as many appliances from the countertop as possible. Consider tucking your toaster and coffee maker (definitely the bean grinder) away in a cupboard when not in use. Clear your refrigerator of all photos, magnets, drawings, coupons and the like for an uncluttered feeling in the kitchen. Remove all other paper clutter from countertops too! Use stackable desk trays to create a new, orderly place for the mail, the kid's school papers, the newspaper, etc. Clean all appliances inside and out and even underneath...you'll be surprised what you find under the fridge! If you can't get those stove top drip pans clean, replace them for a few dollars. Clean or replace your stove's hood filter. Wash cabinets fronts until they shine and don't forget to wipe them down inside too. Clean backsplashes thoroughly, especially by the stove and sink. Scour your sink until it shines! Replace old, stained sponges and washclothes and towels. Your new kitchen will thank you!

The Details: Bedroom Checklist I know what you're thinking...CLOSETS! Bedroom square footage is important, but storage (i.e. your closet) is more important to 90% of your prospective buyer. It may seem overwhelming, but with a little help from our checklist, you'll have organized closets even the professional will envy. Remove everything from your closet that doesn't belong! Family photos, Susie's Kindergarten diploma, Dad's old bowling trophy...even spare bedding...has to go. Bedroom closets are for clothes! Remove off-season items including clothing, shoes, accessories, etc. from your closets. Ah, now with a clean slate, arrange remaining clothing by type and color to create a wave of color and a feeling of calm. Hey, you might feel so peaceful you do it in the next house. Remove all the clutter from dressers and nightstands. We highly recommend placing jewelry out-of-view. For children's rooms, pare down the toys. If they can't fit on shelves or in the closet in an orderly fashion, there are too many. Store the excess off-site and experience "Christmas" when you move and open the toy boxes! Arrange or remove furniture to create the best traffic flow through rooms. Remember, there may be three or four people in that room during a walk-through of your house.

The Details: Bathrooms Checklist Gross bathrooms are...well, gross. It's the smallest room in the house, but your time spent here makes a HUGE difference to prospective buyers. Remove personal items like curling irons, perfume, and tub toys from countertops. Consider putting bathtub toys in a basket under the sink to keep things looking tidy. Clean out the cabinet under the sink. Make it easy to see the pipes and prove there aren't any leaks to worry about. If you have a linen closet, fold towels and washclothes neatly. To maximize space, place like items in water-proof baskets that stack. Fix drippy faucets and running toilets. Replace old lime-crusted shower head and enjoy the difference it makes...for a few weeks at least! Make sure you have good water pressure. A savy buyer will run the water in the shower and sink while flushing the toilet to detect any problems. Make sure all bulbs are working and have the highest wattage safe for each fixture. Brighter is better! Clean ceramic tile surrounds. Clean and re-stain grout if necessary. Spray mildew killing products on trouble areas. Scour sinks and tubs and toilets until they shine like new. Hang a new shower curtain liner! No one wants to see your soap scum and mildew! Get some new towels to hang on the towel bars...and don't use them until you get to your new house!

The Details: Basement Checklist The extra space a basement affords, finished or not, scores big points with prospective buyers. Don't get an "F" in your basement! If basement is damp or musty, get a dehumidifier. The investment is well worth it. Storage rooms are not exempt from the tour. Purge and organize and keep things off the floor as much as possible. If your basement is pet central, be sure to keep their area tidy and odor free by changing litter boxes, keeping dog/cat food bags closed, and washing their bedding frequently.

The Details: Garage Checklist With all this decluttering and cleaning, it would be tempting just put it in the garage. But the garage is for sale too! Prospective buyers won't get a good idea of the size or features of your garage if they can't see it for the mess. Remember, a garage sale, charities or off-site storage are great ways to deal with all the "stuff" in your garage. Clean it out! All the broken tools, old car parts, toys from the 1960’s, and piles of "stuff" from inside your house belong somewhere else. Remove oil stains from the floor with cleaning solutions found at your local hardware store. Group like items (sporting gear, tools, lawncare items, etc.). Consider purchasing clear tubs to store these items.

The Details: Mechanicals Checklist All the equipment that keep your life comfortable and convenient need a little TLC too. Replace your furnace filter and make sure it is in good working condition. Service the air conditioner and have the freon charged if necessary. Have a professional chimney sweep inspect and clean your chimney. Supply proof of these services to prospective buyers. Clean your mechanical room/closet. Wipe down furnaces, hot water heaters, water softeners, etc. It doesn't take much and they look like new.

© 2007 Northwest Realty. All Rights Reserved.