THE BRANTFORD HOME SELLER’S CHECKLIST! – The Munir Group – Brantford Realtors
tips for selling your house in brantford

The Brantford Home Seller’s Checklist!

You wouldn’t believe all the little things that come into play when preparing to list your home. The task involves far more than simply contacting your local Brantford realtor and listing your home.  There are many things you as a home seller can do to make sure your home show sits best face to potential buyers.  Don’t get overwhelmed by thinking about your house as a whole and instead, simplify the job while tackling one room at a time!

Pay attention to the following details for a sale ready home in on time:

Used and worn furnishings in your home will not make a great impression on a buyer.  Replacing smaller, affordable items can really update the look of your home and entice buyers.

Clean/Replace as Needed:

  • Light Switch Covers
  • Fireplace
  • Light Bulbs
  • Front door
  • Carpets
  • Blinds
  • Doors and Door Knobs
  • Interior & Exterior Paint
  • AC/Heater Vents

 

Ensure that your home is clean and ready to show off.  Walking into an open house to find piles of dust, dirt inside the cabinets or worse does not make a good first impression.  A sloppy home also makes a buyer wonder if the previous owner cared for the home at all.

Dust EVERYTHING:

  • Walls
  • Blinds
  • Ceilings
  • Baseboards
  • Windows
  • A/C Intake Vents
  • Ceiling Fans

A worthwhile aspect of selling your home is to make it appealing to buyers.  How do you do this?  Set up your home so that buyers can picture themselves living there as they come to view the home.

Make your home Inviting:

  • Rearrange furniture to maximize visual floor space
  • Pack up all knick-knacks and figurines
  • Take extra care of house plants
  • Remove any furniture or wasted items that you can live without
  • Pack away personal family photos to de-personalize the home
  • Reduce the number of wall art
  • Add lamps to any dark spaces to brighten the room
  • Leave your home smelling fresh and clean

Go through your home, room by room, taking the time to ensure it looks the best it can throughout its entirety.

Keep reading for a helpful checklist for every room in your home.

Living Room/Family Rooms

  • Keep coffee tables clean and clear
  • Remove any ashtrays
  • Keep furniture at a minimum
  • Store away any toys

Dining Room

  • Keep dining table clean and clear with an exception of a nice centerpiece
  • Remove extra chairs from the table and dining room
  • Table should set 4 – 6 chairs max to ultimately show off the space

Kitchen

  • Clear all items from the kitchen countertops
  • Clean tile grout
  • Clean stove, oven and microwave
  • Clear the refrigerator of magnets, pictures and messages
  • Put away all mops, brooks, vacuums, etc.
  • Empty the garbage before each showing
  • Remove any pets, food and water dishes before each showing
  • Organize pantry
  • Scrub/polish the sink to make it look more new

Bedrooms

  • Make beds daily
  • Clear off bedside tables, dressers, etc.
  • Store daily necessities in drawers or closets
  • Organize closets to be neat
  • Keep closet doors closed
  • Keep all the floors clean and vacuumed regularly
  • Repair any holes or damage to walls

Laundry

  • Keep soap and supplies in cupboards
  • Keep all surfaces and sink clean and empty
  • Remove any clothing (dirty OR clean)
  • Keep floors clean and clear

Bathroom

  • Clear and clean all surfaces
  • Coordinate linens in one or two colours
  • Fold towels/keep organized
  • Remove all unnecessary items out of showers/tubs
  • Clean or replace the shower curtain
  • Clean any moldy or damp looking areas
  • Keep toilet lids closed
  • Hide any garbage cans or cleaning supplies
  • Organize cabinets

Before a potential buyer even enters your home, they will see it from the outside.  That’s why getting your outdoor property ready in the same manner as inside the house can pay dividends during the selling process.

Exterior

  • Clean or repaint the front door if necessary
  • Repaint the exterior and trim if needed
  • Sweep all walkways, patios, porches or decks
  • Pressure wash any dirt/stained concrete
  • Re-stain deck wood if needed
  • Wash windows inside & out
  • Use outdoor furniture and patio to show use of space

Yard

  • Trim bushes and plants to look healthy
  • Weed all plant areas
  • Put down fresh mulch if needed
  • Take good care of the lawn (freshly mowed, edged and fertilized
  • Remove any dead plants

Garage

  • Clean and sweep out the garage
  • Keep storage nice and neat
  • Repaint dirty areas
  • Pack up anything you can live without

Now that there’s an organized list to keep track of the work, time to get started! Tackle each room individually – this way you will be sure everything gets completed and in good time.

Good luck!