• Vacuum rugs, shampoo carpets, and mop floors thoroughly.
KITCHEN & BATH: FOCUS ON HIGH-IMPACT AREAS
The most important rooms in your home are the kitchen and bathrooms. A kitchen can sell a house because it is the heart of a home, the place family and friends gather to enjoy one another’s company. Buyers will be turned off by dirt and grime, cooking smells, and trash. Clean all cabinet surfaces as well as under the sink. Bathrooms are so important to Americans that most homes have at least two or three. As you work toward selling your home, it is imperative that the bathrooms are kept clean and odor-free. Potential buyers might forgive a less-than-stellar child’s room, but a questionable bathroom or kitchen could cost you a sale. Vent and/or deodorize cooking odors. Remember, scent is the most memorable of the five human senses. You don’t want prospective buyers to take away lasting memories of your trash or the sauerkraut or fish you had for lunch. On the other hand, the scent of freshly baked cookies has proved to be a favorite among home shoppers at open house events!
PET PEEVES
Pets are wonderful, but home buyers want to see your home without them. Domestic animals are not unique features or selling points of homes; pet dander and odor aren’t going to provide a positive viewing experience. Some prospects might have allergies, others may not like animals, and for all, they are an unnecessary distraction. Minimize the presence of pets. Dog dishes, cat litter boxes, and beds need to be clean. Pets should be relegated to cages or backyards while showing your home.
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