Homeowner's Checklist
Selling your home? To assist you with this very important decision, we’ve provided a checklist that may help you to prepare your home for sale. This checklist is intended to help you increase the marketability, as well as the profitability, of your home sale.
Exterior
Replace, repair and/or paint any damaged...
- Plaster
- Wood Siding
- Trim
- Rain Gutters
- Shutters
- Doors
- Window Frames
- Glazing
- Screens
- Hardware
- Fences/Gates
- Outdoor Lighting
Clean/Wash...
- Siding
- Windows
- Screens
- Outdoor BBQ
- AC Unit
- Pool/Spa
Put 100-watt bulbs in...
- Porch Lights
- Carport
- Garage
- Clean around service areas/trash cans
- Haul away rubbish
- Straighten woodpile
- Repair leaky faucets
- Clean up pet droppings
- Paint or varnish doors
- Polish door hardware
- Check doorbell/knocker
- Paint/replace street #on house
- Make sure septic tank is odor-free
- Clean oil stains from driveway/street
- Patch/reseal driveway if necessary
Landscaping
- Mow/edge lawn regularly
- Aerate/feed lawn
- Overseed bare spots in lawn
- Water lawn regularly
- Remove/replace dead plants
- Prune overgrown shrubs
- Prune or remove shrubs/trees blocking view from windows (unless view is undesirable)
- Stake up any sagging trees/shrubs
- Keep flowerbeds free of weeds
- Trim around base of trees/fences
Repair or remove any broken/damaged landscape accessories such as:
- Fences
- Walls
- Gazebos
- Fountains
- Trellises
- Planters
- Replace any broken stepping-stones
- Adjust any sprinkler system; repair any broken/leaky heads
- Install fencing or shrubs to hide any unsightly views
All Rooms
Clean especially around:
- Doors
- Windows
- Light Switches
- Baseboards
- Chair Rails
- Wash lace curtains and have draperies cleaned if necessary
- Remove or pull back dark curtains
- Lubricate window slides
- Make sure doors open smoothly
- Clean ceiling light fixtures
- Check for cobwebs in all corners
- Fix any scratches in wooden floors
- Replace worn/broken flooring
- Remove or replace+ worn carpet
- Use area rugs where needed
- Empty wastebaskets
- Make the beds
- Fluff the pillows
Kitchen
- Keep dishes/food out of sight
- Clean appliances
- Clean range hood, including light bulbs
- Clean behind appliances
- Keep floor clean
- Clean light fixtures
- Make sure all electrical outlets work
- Eliminate cooking odors
- Deodorize garbage disposal, dishwasher, and refrigerator
- Repair faucets
- Put fresh shelf paper in cabinets
- Organize cupboards
- Clean out under sink
- Replace garbage disposal gasket to reduce noise
Bathrooms
KEEP THEM SPOTLESSLY CLEAN
- Shine mirrors
- Keep wastebasket empty and clean
- Clean out cabinets and remove non-essentials
- Keep fresh, clean towels on towel racks
- Clean shower door—if sliding door, keep track well lubricated
- Remove soap residue, mildew and mold from sink/tub/shower
- Remove lime deposits from fixtures/drains/sink/toilet bowl
- Remove stains from porcelain sink/tub/toilet
- Replace torn/moldy shower curtain
- Clean tile grout
- Make sure toilet flushes properly—replace mechanism if necessary
- Clean exhaust fan/heater---replace if broken or noisy
Closets
- Keep closets clean free of clutter
- Throw out or pack away nonessentials
- Adjust/repair any sliding doors
- Lubricate sliding door
- Paint if needed
Laundry Area
- Clean out area behind washer/dryer
- Eliminate any mildew odors
Garage/Carport/Shed
- Install 100-watt light bulb
- Keep area clean and uncluttered
- Hang up/put away tools
- Clear away any cobwebs
- Remove oil/paint stains from floor
- Adjust tension rod to eliminate sag from overhead garage door
- Lubricate/adjust/repair garage door opener
- Paint if needed
Basement
- Eliminate dampness/mold
- Check for and eliminate cracks
Heating/Air Conditioning Unit
- Vacuum
- Replace filter
- Clean intake valve
- Remove any stored items
