30-Day 'til listing your home

Not sure how to get your house ready to sell? Fortunately, there are steps you can take before putting your home on the market to increase your chances of receiving a solid offer from a buyer. From cleaning and staging to repainting and depersonalizing, here is a 30-day to-do list. I hope it helps!

Day 1.     Change Light bulbs and update fixtures – Replace any burned out bulbs and update outdated fixtures. 

Day 2.     Prepare paperwork – Compile all utility and tax bills, mortgage and renovation details, warranties, and rental contract. You’ll need them at some point during the transaction. 

Day 3.     Get boxes and duct tape – Start stocking up, or order some from a company like Frogbox. If you’re going to be moving a large amount of possessions, consider looking into storage lockers or a POD.

Day 4.     Make an extra set of keys. – You’ll need a set for the lock box. 

Day 5.     Spruce and Clean Bathrooms – Hide toiletries and personal items. Pick up some new affordable, matching accessories and replace towels, toilet seat, shower curtain, or bath mat. Consider replacing hardware like toilet paper holders and towel racks.

Day 6.     Declutter the kitchen – Make countertops as clear as possible, including items like blenders, toasters, etc. Clean out inside of cupboards and the refrigerator. De-personalize, including all photos and magnets. Clean appliances and the inside of the oven. Hide the bar and spruce up with a bowl of brush fruit or a vase of flowers. 

Day 7.     Tackle the bedrooms – The rule of thumb for bedrooms is that everything should be clean, decluttered, and depersonalized. Invest in neutral duvets and updated throw pillows. Straighten up bookshelves to remove personal photos, knick-knacks and everyday items. Clean and organize closets. Steam clean carpets or purchase an area rug. Optimize space if furniture items need to be moved or stored. 

Day 8.     Make your Living Room livable – Clean the sofa and get some fresh new throw pillows. Steam clean carpets or get an area rug. Declutter and depersonalize any photos, media, or magazines. Hide any wires from your TV or speakers that create an eye-sore. 

Day 9.     Remember your dining room? – Remove the piles of stuff that have accumulated on the table. Clean and declutter the hutch. Consider reupholstering old dining chairs or investing in a new tablecloth to hide an old table. 

Day 10.  It’s basement time. – This one might be a doozy. Regardless if your basement is finished or a storage wasteland, you need to invest time to make it look as clean and decluttered as possible. Get rid of all that junk. 

Day 11.  Closets! -  Buyers are definitely going to want to see if your home offers ample closet space. Give yourself an edge by making space and organizing. 

Day 12.  Sort through your store, donate, and throw away piles. – By this point, you’ve accumulated a few piles of items to store, donate, or throw away. Honestly assess what you’re ready to part with and what you want to spend money to store. Research local opportunities to donate gently used items or storage units. 

Day 13.  Make your entrance as welcoming as possible. – Buyers will make a judgement about your home as soon as they walk into it. Invite potential buyers into a great first impression by cleaning, decluttering, and depersonalizing. Put away all shoes and coats and hide coat racks. 

Day 14.  Did we mention depersonalize? – It might sting, but you need to get rid of anything that makes your house your home. You want potential Buyers to be able picture their family in the home; not feel like they’re intruding on someone else. Get rid of all family photos, sports memorabilia, knick-knacks, souvenirs, tchotchkes… everything. To appeal to as many Buyers as possible, tone down any statement decorations or personal pieces. 

Day 15.  Shout from the top of your lungs, you are moving. - No, just kidding. The Riley Team will install a for sale sign, even while it’s still “coming soon”.  Let’s get the neighbors talking about how great it is to live in the neighborhood. 

Day 16.  Get out your painting overalls. – It’s amazing how a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a room. Paint over any bold statement walls like red or blue with something neutral. Help a smaller room look larger with a light color paint. Don’t forget about the baseboards and ceilings! 

Day 17.  Finally, get through that repair list. - We all have the dreaded incomplete list of needed repairs. It’s finally time. You gotta fix that leaky faucet. 

Day 18.  Clean the windows! – Over time rain, snow, and general debris can add up and make your windows dirty without you even realizing. Do the safe cleaning and hire window cleaners to come out for what you can’t access. It makes a huge difference, believe us.

Day 19.  Rack up curb appeal. -  Stand in front of your home and try to see it for the first time through a Buyers eyes. This is the first opportunity that you have to make a physical impression. How’s the door look? Are the scuff marks or chips that need to be repainted? Is your door outdated and needs to be replaced all together? What about the front porch? Make it look inviting, declutter, and remove any personal items. Clean up the garden and invest in seasonal plants. Replace outdoor lights or lighting fixtures, if necessary. 

Day 20.  Time for the backyard. – Do as much as you can in the backyard, depending on the time of year. If it’s spring/summer: tidy up the gardens, trim what’s needed, mow the grass, re-stain the deck, scrub down the patio furniture. If it’s winter/fall: clean any leaves or tree debris. Cover or move furniture if needed.  If you have a garage: organize, clean, fix any paint or roofing issues. 

Day 21.  CLEAN. YOUR. CARPETS. – If you haven’t already, steam clean your carpets. Trust us.

Day 22.  Touch up your floors. – Give them a deep clean. Re-stain if necessary. If you notice any scratches, look into some of the many cheap products to touch them up. 

Day 23.  Magic Erasers are your new best friend. – Use them religiously on your scuffed walls and doors. You’ll be amazed (and maybe a little addicted).

Day 24.  One final scrub down. – Do a deep clean of the usually-neglected: baseboards, inside lights, the fridge etc. You can do this yourself, or you can bring in professionals to go a step farther (and give yourself a break). 

Day 25.  What kids? What dog? – Store away all kid and pet toys. Make a plan for your animals during showings. Whether it’s doggie daycare, going for walks, or staying with a neighbor, try to get your animal out of the house while a potential Buyer is on-site.

Day 26.  Stage it up! – By listing with The Riley Team, you’ll have access to a complimentary Accredited Staging Professional. They'll come in to re-arrange, move, or add furniture to optimize space. As well as add any accessories or decorations to get your home looking its best. 

Day 27.  What’s that smell? – Hopefully nothing! But if you’re a pet odor, there’s likely a little something. Wash any couches, bed, or surfaces that your fur baby sleeps. Tuck away the kitty’s litter box, making sure to clean it twice a day while you have showings. Light some candles, but avoid any strong scents or air fresheners.

Day 28.  You’re not done decluttering. - Look around at all the decluttering you have done. It’s great, isn’t it? Well, declutter some more.

Day 29.  Time for the photoshoot – After all your hard work, The Riley Team will hire a professional photographer to come through your home and work some magic. Let us know if a certain time of day is best for light. 

Day 30.  A final once-over – Take a step back and admire all your hard work. Do you notice anything that still might distract the Buyer? Take one last walk through every room and make any final adjustments.