To make every area of your home tempting to buyers, consider these musts:
Curb appeal:
- Manicured lawn and planting beds (with mulch added to neaten up less-than-perfect zones)
- Handsome planters or boxes with colorful blooms
- Clean, neutral exterior—power wash or paint if needed
- Smoothly functioning door locks, knobs, bell, and latches
- New or spotless house numbers and mailbox
- Good exterior lighting
- Trash and recycling out of sight
Kitchen:
- Countertops clear of all small appliances
- Updated hardware
- Spotless (inside and out) and depersonalized fridge—no magnets, memos, or drawings
- No visible trash cans or recycling bins
Dining Room:
- Bold centerpiece on the table—either a large vase, an orchid, or greenery
- Matching, minimal items in any open or glass shelving pieces, such as a hutch
Living Room:
- Keep-it-simple furniture. You can’t go wrong with a solid off-white linen track arm sofa and a curved or rectangular coffee table. Avoid overstuffed, patterned, or detailed pieces.
- Use slipcovers in white or soft, pale colors on any couch or chair past its prime.
Master bedroom:
- White bedding, with a fluffy white duvet cover. For interest, a gray or blue throw on the bed.
- Large matching lamps
- Soft, neutral area rug
- Minimal clothing in closets (will make them look larger) and no mismatched hangers
- No exercise equipment, laundry baskets, or other extraneous items
Bathrooms:
- Sparkling clean
- Simple and pristine shower curtain
- Rolled-up washcloths and fluffy, white towels
- Simple greenery or single well-groomed plant
- No personal care or grooming products in sight
Secondary bedrooms:
- Neatly made bed
- No toys lying around
- Nothing with your children’s names visible
- No posters on the walls
Backyard:
- Clean, simple, comfortable outdoor furniture