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Preparing Your Home for Top Dollar - One Room at a Time!

Take the time to prepare your home for selling; you would hate to loose a potential sale because the home wasn't "show ready."

Start with a basic declutter and shine: The purpose of this is to get your home ready to show to real estate agents and potential buyers. It is difficult for a real estate agent to tell you how to prepare your home. They know you love your belongings and they are senstive to your feelings. But you need to be a little tough here and look at every room in your home. You want to make a good first impression.

Warning: now is NOT the time to paint all the walls or organize all your kitchen cupboards. You want to zip through the basic declutter and shine as fast as you can. Get your family involved and make this fun. After all, moving is a major event!

What you need to get started...

1. Several trash bags or better yet, a dumpster, if you have lots to get rid of.
   
   
2. Several blue recycle bags: Kelowna, Westbank, and the Westside have an excellent recycling program. All papers, magazines, tin cans, milk jugs, and more can be recycled. You want to have several of these on hand to handle all that paper that seems to find its way into our homes.
   
   
3. Donation Box(es): Some of the clutter in your home that you no longer want may be useful for another family. There are several places that accept household goods as donations. And they will even come and pick up your stuff! Now, you may be tempted to try to hold a moving sale to earn some extra money. For some people this may work, but if you are one of those people who collects the stuff to sell, but never actually has the sale, you may want to consider just helping someone else with your donation.
   
   
4. Some good music: It is much more fun tossing stuff when there is good music in the background.
   
   

Front Entrance - Make a Good First Impression

The front entrance to your home is the first thing a potential buyer will see. Ensure they can walk in without tripping over any shoes, purses or backbacks. Consider hanging a seasonal wreath on the door to welcome your visitors.

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Use your blue bag: recycle newspapers, junk mail, magazines, school papers, etc.
2. Get rid of any trash.
3. Toss shoes, boots, slippers, that are too shoddy or too small to wear. Place the rest in the closet or someplace else besides out in the open at the front door.
4. Take a quick peek in your front closet. Are there any coats, sports equipment, or other stuff that you know no one else can wear or use any more. Add it to the donation box.
5. Do you have chairs, tables, knick knacks, etc in your front entrance? Take a good look at them. Are they used, needed? Do you want to move them to your new home? If no, consider added them to your donation box.
6. Take a look at your entrance mat. If it is shaggy and worn out, consider tossing it and purchase a new one to create the first good impression to your home.
7. Take one last look in the front entrance, anything else that doesn't belong here? Bring it to the room where it belongs.
8. Ensure hall light is working.

Then do a quick surface clean

Fingerprints, window smudges, and outside dirt are the major culprits at the front entrance!

1. Wipe down and shine the front door (both sides), including any windows, and door knobs.
2. Wipe down any finger prints that may be on the door or walls.
3. Dust any tables and decorative items. Check for cobwebs around the light fixture and in the corners.
4. Vacuum rugs and/or sweep and wash the floor.
5. Voila - now your front entrance is ready for anyone who comes knocking!

Living Room, Family Room, and Dining Room

Clutter is an interesting animal. It has the ability to reproduce and hide itself in the most amazing of places. And it has the ability to camoflauge itself right into the surroundings, and before you know it, you don't even see it anymore.

Bring your trash bag, blue recycle bag, and donation box into the living room. This is typically one of the first rooms a prospective buyer will see after they walk into a home. It is also one of those places that clutter likes to hide. We want to create the feeling of plenty of space. When you are done the living room. Take a break. Then repeat these steps for the dining room and the family room.

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all the laundry, coats, shoes, slippers, and put it away.
2. Recycle newspapers, junk mail, magazines, school papers.
3. Gather all trash and toss it.
4. Gather all dirty dishes and bring them to the kitchen.
5. Gather all toys and return them to their proper rooms. Toss any that are broken. Donate any that your children have outgrown.
6. Gather all CD's, videos and return them to their proper storage spot. Donate any that your children have outgrown or that you do not love.
7. Take a look at any knick knacks or other decorative items in this room - now is the chance to donate any that you just don't like anymore.
8. Take a look at the floor, are there still items on the floor that don't belong? Put them away. You want this room to look as large as possible.

Then do a quick surface clean

1. Wipe down coffee table. Keep this table clear. Perhaps only one or two decorative items on it.
2. Wipe down end tables and lamps.
3. Wipe down TV and stereo equipment.
4. Dust any bookshelves and/or decorative items.
5. Vacuum sofa and chairs (go quickly - this is a surface clean). Ploof the pillows.
6. Vacuum rugs and/or sweep and wash the floor.
7. Check that all lights are working.

Kitchen and Eating Nook

The kitchen is the room that most women are very picky about. They are looking for plenty of cupboards, lots of counterspace, and clean, clean, clean! Don't worry if your kitchen is looking dated. You will be amazed at the difference decluttering, surfacing cleaning, and a ton of shine will make!

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

The kitchen is another one of those areas that collects unwanted, unused, broken, and duplicate clutter. Gadgets, appliances you never use, linens that are stuffed into drawers, and coffee mugs that have multiplied by themselves! Get your trash bag and donation box ready to go. It is time to find your kitchen again!

1. Gather all the dirty tea towels, dish clothes, and other laundry and get them out of the kitchen.
2. Recycle all newspapers, magazines, junk mail, old phone books, outdated calendars, and school newsletters, etc.
3. Gather all the trash and get rid of it. Empty the trash can and fill with a new bag.
4. Empty the dishwasher (if dishes are clean).
5. Gather all the dirty dishes and re-fill the disherwasher. Run the dishwasher when full. If you do not have a dishwasher, stack the dirty dishes neatly beside the kitchen sink.
6. This is important! Take a look at all the appliances, knick-knacks, etc that you keep on your kitchen countertops. When selling your home, you want to give the appearance of as much space in the kitchen as you possibly can. This means tossing or donation any appliances that you no longer use or like, and then temporarily relocating any appliances or knick-knacks that you rarely use or don't need for the next little while.
7. Take a look at any mats you may have in the kitchen. Are they smelly and kind of raggy? You may want to consider replacing them with new ones.
8. Take a look at the refrigerator, is it covered with magnets, kid's artwork, announcements, business cards? Have you seen the top of it lately? Consider cleaning everything off the front and sides of the refrigerator. You will be amazed at how much larger the kitchen will look with a bright shiny fridge!
9. Clear off the windowsill (especially if it is over the kitchen sink).

Then do a quick surface clean

1. Wash the dirty dishes, dry them, and put them away.
2. Wash the kitchen table, go around the edge of the table. Give the chairs a quick wipe as well. Place a simple table cloth and one or maybe two decorative items on the kitchen table (i.e. vase with flowers, fruit bowl, or a couple of candles). Keep it clutter-free!
3. Wipe out the kitchen sink and make it shine.
4. Wipe down the outsides of the fridge and make it shine (don't worry about the insides yet).
5. Wipe down the outsides of the stove and make it shine (don't worry about the insides yet).
6. Wipe down the outsides of the dishwasher and make it shine.
7. Wipe down the outsides of the microwave and make it shine.
8. Wipe down the outsides of any appliances that are still on your countertops.
9. Wipe down the outside of the telephone.
10. Wipe down the fronts of the kitchen cabinets.
11. Look for fingerprints on the walls.
12. Wipe down light fixtures.
13. Wash the inside of the kitchen window and the windowsill.
14. Take your window cleaner and add one last touch of shine to any shiny parts in the kitchen (knobs on the stove, handles on the cupboards, faucets, microwave window, toaster, etc).
15. Vacuum and/or sweep and wash the kitchen floors.
16. Check that all lights are working.

Master Bedroom

The Master Bedroom should be the most peaceful room in the home, the one where you relax, play, sleep, and renew yourself for the next day. Try to make this room look like a peaceful haven from the busy parts of the day.

This room, particularly the closet, is home to clothes that are either too large, or too small, are never worn, need to be mended, and been forgotten in the piles that tend to accumulate there. Be tough! Feel free to toss and give away any clothing items that no longer fit, no longer are worn, and no longer makes you smile. You will be amazed at how many donation bags you will be able to fill from the master bedroom!

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all laundry, coats, shoes, slippers, and put it away. Remember to use your donation box for items you no longer want.
2. Recycle newspapers, junk mail, magazines, school papers. A note about those magazines that have been building up around the bed... if you haven't read them in the last six months, there is not too much chance that you are going to read them now. Recycle them, and make room for new adventures in your life!
3. Gather all trash and toss it.
4. Gather all dirty dishes and bring them to the kitchen.
5. Gather all toys and return them to the correct room.
6. Gather all CDs and Videos and put them away.
7. Take a look at any knick-knacks and decorative items in this room - now is the chance to get rid of any that don't make you smile!
8. Take a look at the floor (including behind the door). Are there still items that don't belong? You want this room to look as large as possible.
9. And that master bedroom closet.... this is one the nine spots for hidden clutter that potential buyers will take a peek into. If you have the time, pull out the things you don't want anymore and donate them, toss out the things that shouldn't be worn again, and make room for the clothes you love and wear.

Then do a quick surface clean...

1. Strip the bed and wash the sheets and pillow cases, blanks, comforter (if required)
2. Remake the bed. Take special care to smooth out the comforter and place the pillows neatly on the bed.
3. Wipe down dresser.
4. Wipe down night tables.
5. Wipe down any other furniture in here.
6. Dust decorative items, including the ceiling fan, and tops of the window dressings. Look for cobwebs in the corners.
7. Check for fingerprints, especially around the light switches and doorway.
8. Vacuum any chairs.
9. Vacuum rugs and/or sweep and wash the floors.
10. Check that all lights are working.

Children's and other bedrooms

Before you begin, talk to your kids about their rooms. Explain to them about the concept of helping other families with the things (i.e. toys and stuffed animals) that are no longer loved or used in your home. Broken toys, games and puzzles with missing pieces, stuffed animal collections that are collecting dust, clothes that are too small, etc are clutter that you may want to get rid of. It is hard, but the reward is a space where your child can play, do their homework, use their imaginations, relax, and sleep. It is wonderful to watch how excited a child can be when they find all that space in their rooms!

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all laundry, coats, shoes, slippers, and put them away. Remember to use your "give away" box.
2. Recycle newspapers, junk mail, magazines, school papers. A note about school papers and artwork. This can really accumulate over the years. Consider mailing some of the "special artwork" to grandparents or special aunts and uncles. Old assignments can be added to the blue bag for disposal. Be tough!
3. Gather all trash and toss it (check under the bed - hee hee)
4. Gather all dirty dishes and bring them to the kitchen.
5. Gather all toys and put them away. Can some of them be relocated to another room (i.e. a box in the basement) to make the bedroom appear larger and less cluttered?
6. Gather all CDs and Videos and put them away.
7. Take a look at any knick-knacks and decorative items in this room - now is the chance to get rid of any that you just don't like anymore!
8. Take a look at the floor (including behind the door). Are there still items that don't belong? You want this room to look as large as possible.
9. Don't worry about the closet just yet, we will come back to this.

Then do a quick surface clean...

1. Strip the bed and wash the sheets and pillow cases, blanks, comforter (if required)
2. Remake the bed. Take special care to smooth out the comforter and place the pillow neatly on the bed.
3. Wipe down dresser.
4. Wipe down night tables
5. Wipe down any other furniture in here.
6. Check for fingerprints, especially around the light switches and doorway.
7. Vacuum any chairs.
8. Vacuum rugs and/or sweep and wash the floors.
9. Check that all lights are working.

Bathrooms (repeat for as many bathrooms as you have in your home)

The condition of the bathroom(s) will leave a lasting impression on a potential buyer. Don't worry if the fixtures are dated. Just ensure the room sparkles as best is can (and that it smells good). Keep the toilet seat down too - hee hee!

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all towels, face cloths, laundry and put it away.
2. Recycle all newspapers, magazines, and other "reading material" that may have accumulated in this room.
3. Gather all trash and toss it.
4. Gather all dirty dishes and bring them to the kitchen.
5. Take a look at your cosmetics, sponges, shampoo bottles, bits of soap, shavers, candle stubs, and see how much you can toss, toss, toss. This can really add a bunch of clutter to bathroom.
6. Take a look at any knick-knacks or other decorative items you keep in the bathroom - now is your chance to get rid of anything that doesn't make you smile (including the scale that doesn't work).
7. Take a look at your bathmat - is it a little smelly, shredded, and raggy? Consider replacing it with a new one.
8. Ensure all the lights are working.

Then do a quick surface clean

It doesn't matter what cleaners you use, just grab what you currently have in your supplies. I use a general all purpose cleaner and a window cleaner in my bathroom.

1. Put toilet cleaner in toilet - let it soak a few minutes.
2. Spray all-purpose cleaner in shower and/or tub (spray the walls) - let it soak a few minutes.
3. Wash down the cupboard around the sink.
4. Wipe down any decorative items.
5. Wash down the shower and/or tub. Remember to shine the outside of the bathtub too.
6. use your toilet brush to wash the insides of the toilet.
7. Wash down the outsides of the toilet.
8. Use your window spray to wipe down the mirror, towel rack, toilet paper holder, faucets in the sink and bathtub, light fixtures (ensure lights are turned off and cooled down before wiping these - or the bulbs may pop).
9. Put fresh towels on the towel rack.
10. Vacuum any rugs and/or sweep and wash the floors. Gives the baseboards a wipe too - they tend to collect a lot of fuzz due to the humidity.

Laundry Room

This is another one of those rooms that can really sparkle with a little decluttering and a little shine! It won't take long.

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all the trash, empty detergent boxes and bottles, lint, dryer sheets, plastic bags, single socks, clothes that you are never going to mend, and last, but not least, all those flimsy dry cleaners hangers. Out they go!
2. Put away any clean clothes that are in this room.
3. Sort the dirty laundry, and start a load.
4. Take a look at any mats you may have in this room. Is it kind of smelly and raggy looking? You may want to consider replacing it.
5. Take a look at any knick-knacks or decorative items you may have in this room. Now is your chance to get rid of any items you don't use or that you don't like anymore.
6. Check the lights to ensure they are working.

Then do a quick surface clean...

1. Wipe down any shelves that are in the laundry room.
2. Clean and shine any sinks that are in this room.
3. Use your window cleaner to shine the fronts of the washer and dryer. Let them shine!
4. Vaccuum rugs and/or sweep and wash the floor.

Let's Go Outside!

The outside of your home makes the first impression on prospective buyers. If a potential buyer is interested in your home, they will drive around the front, then around the back, and then around the front again. This is your opportunity to let your home look the best it can. This does not mean a complete paint job and roof remodel! It means decluttering and a little bit of shining. Get the family involved, this can be fun! First, take a quick look around. Do you have a lot of used building materials, yard debris, broken bits of stuff, old cars, etc. in your yard? You may want to call in the big guns: a dumpster. They can be rented for a couple hundred dollars over the weekend. It will be the best investment you make during your moving process.

First, get rid of the stuff out in the open...

1. Gather all the trash, papers, wrappers, old building materials, broken pails, broken shingles, toys, etc. that are laying around outside of the home. Remember to look in the bushes and along the fence line as well.
2. Take a look at the porch and front entrance. Is it full of stuff that you have to step over and around? Consider getting rid of anything that doesn't belong or that is just plain old trash.
3. Take a look at the deck and/or patio. Consider getting rid of anything that is broken, worn out, or that you just don't want to move to a new home.
4. Look at where you store your trash cans.
5. Check all the outside lights, make sure they work.
6. If you have more trash than allowed for the weekly pickup, load up the excess trash and take it to the dump right away. Once it is gone, you don't have to worry about it again (and more importantly, a prospective buyer will not see it).

Then do a quick surface clean

1. Mow the grass.
2. Rake the leaves.
3. Sweep the front steps, porch and sidewalk. Shovel and de-ice it if it has snowed or is icy. You don't want anyone to slip!
4. Sweep away any spider webs, etc. in the front entrance way.
5. Sweep the back porch, deck, and or patio.
6. Wash the porch light and mailbox.

That's it, you are done the surfaces!

Congratulations, you have touched on all the surfaces of the most important rooms in your home. Yes, we have not gone into closets, or tackled the basement, garage, attic, etc. But now, your home is actually ready to show. People understand a lot of stuff in basements and garages, because they know that the stuff will be gone when you move out. But people have a difficult time trying to visualize what a home will look like when the main areas are cluttered and not clean. Good job! You should be proud of yourselves. It is time to celebrate. Remember to include your family, go for a family walk, swim, or out to dinner. You have all worked hard.

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