Home Buyer & Home Seller Guide

Buying & Selling A Home

Before you can show people around your house it must be cleaned thoroughly, all repairs done and if necessary you will have to spend some money on redoing decorating, paint etc. Print off this checklist and go through your house ticking the boxes as you finish them. Once done you are ready to start showing people around.

Garden

• Sweep driveway and Paths
• Mow lawn and tidy boarders
• Hedges trimmed, trees pruned
• Put up hanging baskets
• Make sure there is no litter in the garden
• Clean out your pond if you have one
• lear away all children’s playthings bikes,toys etc.
• Make sure there is no dogs dirt on the lawn

Garage

• Store any tools, appliances in units or in boxes
• Make sure the floor is thoroughly swept and clutter free
• Ensure garage is well lit

Roof

Buyers will pay close attention to the condition of your roof. Re-patch or where necessary, and fix leaky, corroded drains and gutters. Inside, a watermarked ceiling is a sign to buyers that the roof has leaked even if the damage has been repaired.

Interior

Entrance

A neat and clean entryway creates a positive first impression. Replace faded house numbers with new ones. Make sure the doorbell is working properly.

• Clean the front door inside and out and if needed give it a coat of paint
• Cobwebs cleared
• Touch up paint work (if tarnished or chipped)
• Ensure hall is well lit
• Remove shoes, bags and keep coats tucked out of sight

Living/dining room

Make your living room look spacious by decluttering it and keeping everything organized and neat. Don`t cover all wall space with furniture pull the furniture away from the walls this will make the room seem bigger. If something doesn`t belong in there get it out. If you decorate this room keep the colors light and soft this will also make the room appear bigger.

• Pull back curtains
• Turn TV and stereo off
• No clutter
• Fresh flowers
• Open a window to air the room
• Newspapers and magazines put away neatly
• Fireplace clean/ashes removed. Clean out the chimney.

Kitchen

As every one knows the kitchen is the room that everyone is interested in. The kitchen should have plenty of space, storage and plenty of worktops. If you haven`t got much storage space have some wall units put in. Change door handles to make them look newer you could also paint units to give them a modern look.

• Keep a window open to get rid of cooking smells
• Clean dishes and put them away so that they are out of sight
• Make sure worktops are clean and clutter free
• Cooker cleaned properly (if you are leaving the cooker behind ensure you clean it inside as well
• Clear pet bowls and baskets
• Mop floor – gives a nice fresh smell
• Make sure your appliances are sparkling

Bathroom

• Make sure the bathtub and shower are spotless
• Remove mildew stains from tiles and grouting
• Clean shower curtain thoroughly
• Tidy the laundry area and put clean fresh towels on display. Put some potpourri in a dish to give it a nice smell

Bedrooms

• Make the beds
• Put all clothing in drawers/wardrobes
• If you have walk in wardrobes clear them out. Not only will they look tidier but they will look a lot bigger
• Open windows

Repairs & touches

If walls are cracked, the paint work is yellow and the wallpaper is dated it will put potential buyers off. Go around your house and check that there is no damages if they are have them repaired.

Walls

• Skirting boards clean and dusted
• Cover nail holes
• Cracks, chips and leaks repaired
• Repair any damages to walls
• Painting touched up or redone
• Wallpaper walls where needing done

Don`t decorate the whole house unless needed If there are only parts of the walls that are damaged and you can`t afford to have them repaired cover them with a nice picture, mirror or a piece of furniture.

Doors & Windows

• Make sure that all the windows open and close easily
• Check that doors don`t need oiling and that they shut and open easily
• Check that door knobs, handles and latches aren`t loose
• Repair any cracks in glass
• Have all the windows cleaned
• Make sure your door bell is working properly and replace door numbers if they are looking a bit tatty
• Make sure the window frames aren`t damaged

If you can afford it replace your old windows with double glazing.

Flooring

• Vacuum thoroughly
• Are carpets clean and in good condition? If not have them steam cleaned
• If you have wooden floors, sweep thoroughly and make sure there are no stains or scratches showing
• Mop the kitchen/bathroom floors until they are gleaming. Make sure they are dry before you show anyone about

If there are stains on the carpets or if they have faded cover them with furniture or decorative rugs. Do the same with wooden floors if they are scratched or you could give them a varnish.

Lighting & Plumbing

• Have any overhead lighting fixed if not working
• Put in new lamp shades or chandeliers. You can always take them with you when you move
• All wiring should be covered
• Make sure you have high watt bulbs in dark rooms
• All sockets are in working order and that they turn on and off easily
• Toilet in good working order
• Have any leeks fixed immediately