The document provides 50 strategies for maximizing the appeal of a home for sale. It covers preparing helpful information for buyers, creating a warm interior mood, tidying overlooked interior areas, sprucing up the exterior, storing goods, and final preparations. Suggestions include providing photos, bills, warranties and community documents, using lighting, music and scents, tidying furniture, floors, and beds, and ensuring the yard and windows are clean and tidy. The goal is to make the home inviting and to minimize any potential negatives that could turn away buyers.

1. 50 Strategies For Maximizing Your Home-Appeal
www.LedermanInc.com/Home-Appeal
Copyright 2003, Lederman & Associates, Inc. All rights reserved.
This report is the property of Lederman & Associates, Inc. No reproduction,
duplication, distribution, sale, resale or use by anyone other than the original recipient
is permitted without the express written permission of Lederman & Associates, Inc.
This information is provided “as-is” without any kind of warranty or guarantee.

2. ** 50 Strategies For Maximizing Your HOME-APPEAL **
Table of Contents
Section Page
Helpful Information For Prospective Buyers 3
1. Real estate listing and floor plan 3
2. Pictures of your home 3
3. Municipal Information 3
4. Electric and Water Bills 3
5. Homeowners Association Documents 4
6. Homeowners Association Dues 4
7. Warranties 4
8. Upgrades List 4
Creating A Warm, Positive And Inviting Mood Inside The House 6
9. Preparation 6
10. Fans 6
11. Flowers 6
12. Music 6
13. Lighting 6
14. Air Conditioner 7
15. Window Shades 7
16. Scents 7
17. Bathroom 7
18. Children 8
19. Pets 8
The Little Things Most Often Overlooked Inside the House 9
20. Furniture and Countertops 9
21. Couch and Chair Cushions 9
22. Carpets, Rugs and Floors 9
23. Beds 9
24. Kitchen Sink 9
25. Refrigerator 10
26. Dishwasher 10
27. Oven 10
28. Garbage 10
29. Mirrors 10
30. Toilet 11
31. Shower Curtain or Door 11
32. Houseplants 11
33. Laundry 11
Sprucing Up The Outside Of Your Home 12
34. Lawn 12
35. Shrubs 12
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3. Section Page
Sprucing Up The Outside Of Your Home (continued) 12
36. Outdoor Plants 12
37. Landscaping 12
38. Outside Flowers 12
39. Pool Cover 12
40. Pool Deck 13
41. Windows 13
42. Exterior Surfaces 13
43. Roof 13
44. Front Door & Entranceway 14
45. Driveway 14
46. Automobiles 14
When Less Is Best - Store Your Goods 15
47. Storage 15
48. Attic 15
49. Closets 15
Final Preparation 16
50. Review your HOME-APPEAL report again 16
Master Checklist 17-26
Walk-Around Checklist 27-45
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4. Helpful Information For Prospective Buyers
1. Real estate listing and floor plan: Make up a fact sheet for the house (size,
price, age of home, pool, waterfront, property size, etc.) and include a floor plan
showing the dimensions of each room.
Benefit: This is another visual aid that a prospective buyer can go home with
and use in their decision making process. You want to make it easier for them to
visualize your home and to determine whether they can “fit” in your home. If
you do not have the original floor plan, you can easily create one with a pencil,
some graph paper and a tape measure.
Tip: Also helpful is a copy of your survey showing your property boundaries.
This can be easily obtained at your Town or City Hall.
2. Pictures of your home: Take pictures of the exterior (front of house, pool,
backyard) and interior (kitchen, family room, master bedroom) of your home and
make copies (inexpensive reprints are available locally) available to prospective
buyers.
Benefit: If a prospective buyer does not make you an offer on the spot, you can
help them remember your home by giving them pictures. This will keep your
home fresh in their mind and will give them something visual to remember your
house by as they go through their decision making process. Remember the old
saying – out of sight, out of mind. Pictures can help counter this.
3. Municipal Information: Prepare a short summary of the area including local
schools, parks, libraries, municipal services, and sports leagues.
Benefit: Many prospective buyers are from another town, city or even state and
probably don’t know much about the area they are looking in. They may have
heard from a friend or relative that your city is a great place to live but don’t
have many details. This list is especially important if they have children so that
they can see the different recreational programs available to them.
4. Electric and Water Bills: Make copies of at least three recent bills, preferably
one from the summer (August/September), one from winter (December/January)
and one from springtime (April/May).
Benefit: Many prospective buyers are unaware of the true cost of utilities in a
home or are skeptical when sellers quote figures for their bills without showing a
bill. Providing copies of your bills will give you added credibility and will send the
message that you are up-front and not trying to hide anything. It may also help
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5. the prospective buyer make a better decision on how much they can afford to
carry in payments each month and make the negotiating process easier.
Tip: If it makes you more comfortable, cover over your account numbers before
making copies of bills.
5. Homeowners Association Documents: Familiarize yourself with and have a
copy of your Homeowners Association documents available for review.
Benefit: This will give a prospective buyer the opportunity to quickly see the
rules of the road of the community and to make sure that they can live within
the rules of the community. For you, the seller, the last thing you want is to
negotiate a contract with a prospective buyer only to find out weeks later that
the buyer has to back out because they cannot leave their boat on the driveway
or on the lawn, etc.
6. Homeowners Association Dues: Make copies of your most recent statement.
Benefit: Many prospective buyers are unaware that they may be buying a home
in a community with a Homeowners Association and that they will incur a
monthly or quarterly fee. Providing copies of your bill will help prospective
buyers make a better decision on how much they can afford to carry in payments
each month. It will also give you the opportunity to explain the benefits and
amenities they will receive living in your community (e.g., guard gate, swimming
pool, lawn service).
7. Warranties: Gather up all warranties on the home, appliances, fixtures or other
permanent items that you will not be taking with you.
Benefit: Prospective buyers are always concerned about the conditions of
appliances and the general quality and soundness of the structure. The longer
the term left on any warranties, the less concern the prospective buyer may have
about that item. Items to check and see whether you have any warranty
remaining are: refrigerator, oven/stove, microwave, garbage disposal, hot water
heater, air conditioner, washer, dryer, pool & pool equipment, fans, and garage
door openers. Newer homes may also still be covered by a builder’s warranty on
the roof and other structural elements.
8. Upgrades List: Prepare an itemized list of upgrades and improvements you
have made to the house since you bought it. Also include other upgrades that
earlier owners or the builder included.
Benefit: This is another visual aid a prospective buyer can go home with and
use in their decision making process. The reason for this list is that prospective
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6. buyers look at many homes so it is difficult for them to remember which home
had which features. This list will also send the message to the prospective
buyers that they are getting added value in this home as compared to a home
with minimal upgrades. Upgrades to remember include tiling & wood flooring,
pool, alarm system, solar hot water heater, high-capacity hot water heater,
storm gutters, screened-in patio, decking, multi-zone and independent air
conditioning units, new or remodeled kitchen cabinets/sinks/appliances, garage
shelving, built-in wall units and bookcases, computer & home network wiring, in-
house water treatment systems, etc.
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7. Creating A Warm, Positive And Inviting Mood Inside The House
9. Preparation: Take the time to prepare. Do not schedule a viewing unless you
will be home for at least one hour before to prepare the house.
Benefit: You need this time to make sure your home is in top HOME-APPEAL
condition before showing it to a prospective buyer. Make sure everything has
been checked and put in its proper place and last-minute HOME-APPEAL items
have been taken care of. Also use this time to mentally go over the highlights
and major attributes of your home that you want to stress to the prospective
buyers. An added bonus is you don’t have to worry about being late for the
appointment due to traffic, your kid’s game running late, etc. as you have a
built-in one hour cushion.
10. Fans: Turn the fans on low in every room.
Benefit: This provides two benefits. First the movement of the fans focuses the
buyer’s attention on the fact that you have working fans in some or all of your
rooms. Secondly, fans moving at a slow speed give off a warm and relaxing
feeling. Ever notice that many restaurants and bars have their fans moving ever
so slowly to create a friendly ambiance.
11. Flowers: Place a small vase of fresh flowers in each room.
Benefit: Fresh flowers are another visual aid that gives off a warm and
welcoming feeling and will brighten up even the most plain or unexciting rooms.
You can purchase low-cost vases at most dollar stores and inexpensive flowers at
most supermarkets, discount stores or discount florists. You don’t need a whole
bouquet in each room – buy just enough to put one or two flowers in the living
room, dining room, kitchen and each bedroom and bathroom.
12. Music: Have an FM station or a CD softly playing classical or light instrumentals
in each room.
Benefit: This is another aid in setting a positive mood in the home. Soft
background music playing in each room (living room, kitchen, family room,
bedrooms) helps to separate the buyers from the interference of external noises
such as street traffic, gardeners, etc. It also sends a signal of warmth and
comfort, similar to the flowers and fans.
13. Lighting: Turn the lights on in every room and make sure that all light bulbs are
in working order.
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8. Benefit: Making sure that all bulbs are in working order may seem trivial but
remember that you do not want a prospective buyer to receive any negative
impressions during their visit to your home, even small ones like this. Turning
the lights on in every room accomplishes two things; first it shows the
prospective buyers that all permanent fixtures are in good working order.
Secondly, it brightens up each room, which visually makes a room look larger
that when it is dimly lit.
14. Air Conditioner: Set the air conditioner thermostat down to about 74-75
degrees.
Benefit: The most obvious benefit to this is that it shows a prospective buyer
that the air conditioning unit is in working condition and can satisfactorily cool
the house. Secondly, you want the house to be at a comfortable temperature
for the showing. You can be assured that if a prospective buyer feels warm or
hot in your house, they will not concentrate on the features of your home but on
what is wrong with your air conditioning system. Finally, in many houses, due to
the orientation of the house and the time of day, some rooms are warmer than
others. By setting the air conditioner down below what you normally would, the
“warm” rooms will feel cooler to the prospective buyers than they would to you
under normal circumstances.
15. Window Shades: Open partially or fully depending on time of day and sun
exposure.
Benefit: Similar to turning on the lights, the extra light brightens up each room
which visually makes a room look larger than when it is dimly lit
16. Scents: Use scented candles or potpourri to freshen up the smell of your home.
Benefits: Again, the objective is to set the most positive and relaxing mood
inside the house. This is easily (and inexpensively) accomplished through
scented candles or potpourri bowls, unless of course you have the time to bake
fresh cookies or pies each time a prospective buyer comes to your home.
Tip: Do not fry or cook foods that leave a lingering smell during the time period
you are marketing your home. Smells such as fried fish; potatoes, etc. can linger
in the home for several days.
17. Bathroom: Place fresh guest towels in all of the bathrooms.
Benefit: Bathrooms tend to be stark and are one of the most overlooked rooms
in the home by sellers when they prepare their home for viewing. Placing clean
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9. and fresh guest towels in the bathroom gives the room a cleaner and more
appealing look.
Tip: Since you will be in the bathroom to put out the fresh guest towels, make
sure that any other towels your family may use (e.g., shower, hand) are either
hanging neatly or are out of site.
18. Children: Try to have the kids out of the house during a showing.
Benefit: If at all possible, have the kids go to a neighbor, relative or friend. The
main reason is so that you will not be distracted during the showing and can
devote 100% of your attention to a prospective buyer. Also, having the kids out-
of-the house minimizes the chances that the kids will inadvertently dirty up the
bathroom, the kitchen sink, etc. while you are in the midst of the showing.
19. Pets: If possible, remove loose pets from your home during a showing. If not,
crate or pen them if possible.
Benefit: You do not know if the prospective buyer likes or is allergic to dogs or
cats so you need to play it safe. A loose pet might jump up and bother a
prospective buyer or worse than that, startle a young child and throw the whole
showing into a negative mood. Nothing is worse for you than having to show
the house to a prospective buyer who is distracted by a scared child.
Tip: Do not lock the pet in a spare room, put them in a crate in the garage, on a
chain outside or better yet, if you have older kids, kill two birds with one stone
by having them take the pet for a walk. You want to assure that the family pet
does not become a negative impression due to its scratching at a door, barking,
etc.
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10. The Little Things Most Often Overlooked Inside The House
20. Furniture and Countertops: Remove all personal items, knickknacks,
newspapers, and old magazines from all table, dresser and countertops.
Benefit: Clutter makes rooms look smaller and less inviting so the less mess you
have laying out the better. Perception is reality and if a prospective buyer leaves
your home with the impression that the home was messy – they may lose sight
of all the other positives of your home.
21. Couch and Chair Cushions: Straighten and arrange your couch and chair
cushions.
Benefit: A visual tip that makes your home look more appealing. You would do
this if your boss or mother-in-law were coming over for dinner so why wouldn’t
you afford prospective buyers the same treatment.
22. Carpets, Rugs and Floors: Run the vacuum over all carpets, rugs and floors.
Benefit: You want to catch all those last-minute stray pet hairs, food crumbs,
etc. so that the prospective buyer views your flooring in the best possible
manner.
Tip: Sprinkle a little carpet freshener on your rugs and carpet to give them a
fresh-smelling scent.
23. Beds: Make sure all beds are fully made up with fresh sheets and blankets or
bedspreads.
Benefit: Firstly, many bedrooms are undersized for the amount of furniture and
goods that are placed in them. An unmade bed will make a room look unkempt
and may add a negative impression to the showing. Secondly, we are all
accustomed to the smells and scents of our own homes and rooms, but our
natural smell may not be to another person’s liking. Fresh sheets will help
provide a more neutral and pleasing smell to the room.
Tip: Place fresh room deodorizers in every bedroom or spray a light mist of air
freshener in every room right before a showing.
24. Kitchen Sink: Remove all pots & pans, dishes, glasses, silverware, etc. from the
sink and drain board. Clean and dry the sink area.
Benefit: A clean sink makes the sink area appear bigger than if it is full of
dishes. A dry sink gives a cleaner and more visually appealing look. Remember,
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11. a prospective buyer is interested in the functionality and amenities of your home,
not what you ate for your last meal.
25. Refrigerator: Clean and organize the inside of the refrigerator and make sure
there are no unsightly odors or scents.
Benefit: No matter what size your refrigerator is, if it is well organized it will
appear to be bigger than if it is cluttered. Also, by making sure that there are no
bad smells in the refrigerator, you remove the possibility of a negative
impression entering into the process when a prospective buyer looks inside your
refrigerator.
Tip: Do not forget to unclutter the outside of the refrigerator as well. Remove
all magnets, pictures, shopping lists from the refrigerator doors.
26. Dishwasher: Run the dishwasher and empty it.
Benefit: Visually, an empty dishwasher “fits” more dishes than a full
dishwasher, at least to a prospective buyer’s eyes. Secondly, you do not want a
prospective buyer to either see or smell the essence of last night’s dinner dishes
that are sitting in the dishwasher.
27. Oven: Keep the interior of the oven and the stovetop clean and the glass oven
window polished.
Benefit: Cleanliness, or the appearance of cleanliness, is very important to
prospective buyers. They do not want to see layers of crust or grease drippings
baked-on the walls of the oven or the stovetop burners, etc. A secondary benefit
is a clean stovetop/oven looks newer than a dirty one.
Tip: Do not forget to touch-up any chips on the porcelain. Inexpensive porcelain
paint is available at any home improvement store.
28. Garbage: Empty all garbage pails inside the house.
Benefit: Garbage is exactly that – garbage. The best way to make sure that no
odors, smells or unpleasant sights emanate from your garbage is to remove it
from the house. Garbage never is a positive selling point.
Tip: Don’t overlook the bathroom garbage as many personal hygiene items end
up in these waste cans.
29. Mirrors: Clean all mirrors, especially those in the bathroom.
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12. Benefit: Mirrors show many things besides your reflection. There is no need to
potentially introduce a negative impression into the process as a prospective
buyer walks into the bathroom and finds a mirror splattered with toothpaste or
fingerprints, etc.
30. Toilet: Keep the toilet well cleaned and keep the lid on the toilet closed.
Benefit: This tip is really self-explanatory but again is overlooked by many
sellers. Prospective buyers do not want to or need to see an open toilet when
they look at the bathroom. If they want to look, they will lift the lid themselves.
Before a showing, do not assume that the toilet is clean or that the lid is down,
especially if you have children in the house. Be cautious on this one and perform
this check at the last moment.
31. Shower Curtain or Door: Open the shower door or curtain about halfway.
Benefit: This allows a prospective buyer to look into the shower without feeling
they are “prying” by having to open the door or curtain themselves.
Tip: Make sure all showers and tubs are dry – water drops on the walls and
floors of showers and tubs can make them appear to be dirty.
32. Houseplants: Keep all houseplants watered, fertilized and healthy.
Benefit: The benefit of this is twofold. First, house plants help keep the air in
your home fresher as part of their chemical and biological processes. Secondly,
vibrant and healthy houseplants give off a visually positive and healthy feeling
versus wilting and dying plants.
33. Laundry: Do not leave any dirty laundry on top of the washer or dryer or in
plain view in the laundry room.
Benefit: Very simply, prospective buyers are not interested in what you wear or
what your dirty socks smell like.
Tip: Store your dirty laundry in the washing machine. This gets it out of sight
and the inside of the washing machine is one of the last places a prospective
buyer is likely to look at during a showing.
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13. Sprucing Up The Outside Of Your Home
34. Lawn: Cut the lawn more frequently than normal – every 4-5 days during
growing season.
Benefit: Your lawn never looks as good as right after it is cut with all the blades
the same length. After a few days, the grass has grown at different rates and it
starts to look less attractive and weeds begin to pop up again.
Tip: Walk around the yard and make sure that your pets or other neighborhood
pets have not left any “presents” on your lawn that a prospective buyer might
“step into” during an outdoor walk around.
35. Shrubs: Keep all shrubs neatly trimmed.
Benefit: Paying attention to your shrubs assures that your garden area will not
become overgrown and will not take away from your homes curb appeal.
36. Outdoor Plants: Lightly sprinkle outdoor plants and flowers.
Benefit: Ever notice how a shrub or flower looks with moisture drops hanging
on its leaves – a very calming and positive image. An added benefit is that your
flowers will perk up after being watered.
37. Landscaping: Add fresh mulch to the garden beds every three-to-four weeks.
Benefit: Over time mulch beds harden, mulch decays and weeds start popping
up in your garden. By sprinkling a little fresh mulch over your garden, you
spruce it up with fresh color and aroma and you cover any weeds that might
have begun to sprout up.
38. Outside Flowers: Plant fresh annuals and/or place pre-planted planters around
the entranceway to your home and in the front garden.
Benefit: If you do not plant colorful annuals throughout your garden, placing a
few planters of colorful annuals near your entranceway will give your
entranceway a fresh and appealing appearance. Greeting your prospective
buyers with a splash of color as they enter your home will help set a positive
impression for their visit inside.
39. Pool Cover: If you use a pool cover or solar blanket, remove it and store it
neatly in the garage or out of site.
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14. Benefit: First, many pool covers become catch basins for dirt and leaves and
eventually start looking unsightly. Secondly, you do not want a prospective
buyer to have to guess what your pool looks like (e.g., tile and diamondbrite
color) or whether your pool is clean.
Tip: Vacuum your pool before a showing and make sure the pump is running to
keep the water circulating. If showing at night, turn the pool light on.
40. Pool Deck: Keep the pool deck and outside furniture clean and uncluttered.
Benefit: Another area where less clutter gives the appearance of more space.
Keeping the furniture clean also avoids allowing a negative impression to enter
into the showing process.
41. Windows: Clean all windows and screens, both inside and outside.
Benefit: Similar to the mirrors in your home, dirty windows and screens may
add a negative impression to the showing process.
Tip: For a cleaner look from both the inside and the outside, remove any
window screens from windows that are within a screened-in enclosure (e.g.,
screened in patio or pool area).
42. Exterior Surfaces: Keep all outside walls, trim, doors and gutters clean from
mildew and mold.
Benefit: Mold, mildew, and algae on the outside of your home are not only
unsightly but potentially can harbor unhealthy bacteria. No reason to add a
negative impression to your home.
Tip: Be careful using a pressure cleaner on dark-paint areas as the water spray
might cause the paint to fade or chalk. Better to try and sponge clean the area
carefully with a soft sponge and a dilute mixture of bleach and water.
43. Roof: Clean the roof, if it is dirty or mildewed.
Benefit: The roof is one of the more prominent features of your home that a
prospective buyer sees when they first arrive and when they leave. A dirty roof
can leave a negative impression, especially if the rest of the outside of your
house is also unkempt.
Tip: If you hire someone to clean your roof, make sure they are licensed and
insured.
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15. 44. Front Door & Entranceway: Keep the front door and entranceway clean by
sweeping the entranceway and wiping the door with a damp cloth.
Benefit: Typically, a prospective buyer will enter your home through your front
door. Why greet them with a negative impression?
45. Driveway: Hose off the driveway and remove all weeds from between the
pavers.
Benefit: Many homeowners don’t view the driveway as being important, yet in
many homes, it is as large as the rest of the front yard. Cleaning the weeds out
of the pavers will give your driveway a well-maintained look. Hosing down the
driveway will remove the surface dirt that accumulates on your driveway daily.
46. Automobiles: Leave at least one bay of the garage empty by parking one or
more of your cars in the street or at a neighbor’s house.
Benefit: Many homes have two car garages with minimal room for storage if the
two cars are parked inside. Leaving one or both cars out of the garage gives the
illusion of more space to the prospective buyer versus seeing a bicycle jammed
up against a car door.
Tip: If you have a three-car garage, make sure the third bay is neat and
uncluttered.
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16. When Less Is Best - Store Your Goods
47. Storage: Rent a storage unit on a short-term basis and store all non-essential
items until you move.
Benefit: Get a head start on packing (you will be moving eventually) and store
non-essential furniture and other items while you are marketing your home. The
advantage is that the less there is in your home, the bigger it appears to
prospective buyers.
Tip: To assist in this process, use this time to go through everything in your
home and then hold a garage sale. Arrange for a charity to come at the closing
time of the garage sale to take away all unsold items. Secondary benefit is you
make some money on the sale and get a tax deduction for the donated items.
48. Attic: Clean out the attic.
Benefit: First, if a prospective buyer sees that you are storing items in the attic,
they might get the negative impression that the house is not big enough to fit all
of their belongings. A negative impression you do not want to allow entering
into the process. Secondly, when was the last time you looked at the items you
had stored in the attic? This is a good time to clean out the attic and determine
whether the items you keep up there are still worth keeping.
49. Closets: Make sure all closets are accessible and neatly organized.
Benefit: Storage space is very important to a prospective buyer, especially in
the master bedroom and kids’ bedrooms. If your closets are stacked to the top
with barely a free inch or two, a prospective buyer will not get a true feeling for
the size of the closet and will leave with a negative impression that your house
did not have adequate storage space. Secondarily, they might leave with the
impression that the house is smaller than it actually is.
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17. Final Preparation
50. Review your HOME-APPEAL report again: Read over and review the entire
HOME-APPEAL inspection report that you filled out and make sure that all
items have been corrected or addressed.
Benefit: You made a smart decision by choosing to conduct a HOME-APPEAL
self-assessment of your home. To reap all the benefits of the HOME-APPEAL
process, you need to correct the findings from your HOME-APPEAL self-
assessment and make sure that as many as possible of these “50 Strategies for
Maximizing Your HOME-APPEAL” guide are implemented.
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18. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 1 of 10
INTERIOR
Kitchen
• Clear off unused appliances from countertops (toasters, blenders etc)
• Clean appliances (inside and out) (i.e. microwave, stove, refrigerator,
dishwasher)
• Empty dishwasher
• Remove clutter from refrigerator door (magnets, school papers etc)
• Clean exhaust fan
• Clean sink area including soap dishes/pumps, drainer, faucets etc.
• Tidy/organize drawers and cabinets (thin out if necessary)
• Clear off tabletop
• Remove all garbage and recycles from area
• Replace burner plates/reflector bowls on stove
• Replace grout or caulk on countertops and sink area
• Replace broken tile
• Clean grout and tiles
• Check/replace light bulbs in light fixtures and appliances
• Fresh paint (walls and baseboards) Neutral colors
• Check for outlet clutter/extension cords
• Eliminate odors
• Refrigerator odors
• Clean windows/sliding glass doors and vacuum out dead bugs and dust
• Repair/replace torn screens
• Remove clutter from over-the-cabinet shelving
• Under sink moisture
• Cabinet hardware
• Cabinet surfaces
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings
• Kitchen rugs (clean or remove)
• Clean/repair garbage disposal
• Kitchen adornments (walls)
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Room fans
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19. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 2 of 10
Living Room –Family Room – Dining Room
• Vacuum/clean tile or carpeting
• Fresh paint (walls and baseboards) Neutral colors
• Replace light bulbs
• Remove extra furniture; arrange furniture for spacious feeling
• Clear tabletops
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Clean curtains, shutters, mini blinds, etc.
• Clean and de clutter shelving
• Check walls for dents and holes
• Clean windows/sliding glass doors and vacuum out dead bugs and dust
• Repair/replace torn screens
• Check for outlet clutter/extension cords
• Eliminate odors
• Dust and polish furniture (TVs, dressers)
• Adjust traffic patterns
• Adjust knick knacks and personal photos
• Room fans
• Dining Room Light fixture
• Wall adornments
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20. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 3 of 10
Master Bedroom
• Reduce clutter
• Thin out closets
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Clean curtains, shutters, mini blinds, etc
• Check walls for dents and holes
• Clean windows/sliding glass doors and vacuum out dead bugs and dust
• Repair/replace torn screens
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings
• Fresh paint (walls and baseboards) Neutral colors
• Vacuum/clean tile or carpeting
• Replace light bulbs
• Arrange furniture for a spacious feeling
• Make up the bed with fresh linens/bedspread
• Check for outlet clutter/extension cords
• Remove personal items and clothing from surfaces
• Eliminate odors
• Dust and polish furniture
• Adjust traffic patterns
• Room fans
• Wall adornments
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21. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 4 of 10
Kids’ Bedrooms
• Reduce clutter on all top surfaces (dresser, desk, nightstands)
• Thin out closets
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Clean curtains, shutters, mini blinds, etc
• Check walls for dents and holes
• Clean windows and vacuum out dead bugs and dust
• Repair/replace torn screens
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings
• Fresh paint (walls and baseboards) Neutral colors
• Vacuum/clean tile or carpeting
• Replace light bulbs
• Arrange furniture for a spacious feeling
• Make up the bed with fresh linens/bedspread
• Remove extra toys and clutter from room
• Remove personal items and clothing from surfaces
• Check for outlet clutter/extension cords
• Eliminate odors
• Dust and polish furniture
• Adjust traffic patterns
• Room fans
• Wall adornments
20

22. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 5 of 10
Bathrooms
• Clear off vanity/sink of personal belongings
• Clean vanity top
• Remove all grime, water stains and mold/mildew
• Clean grout/caulk
• Refresh paint on walls and baseboard
• Remove lime buildup on inside of toilet
• Replace old toilet seats and shower curtains
• Store cleaning supplies neatly under sink
• Hang fresh towels
• Hide/remove laundry basket
• Check tiles for chips and repair
• Repair leaky faucets and shower heads
• Repair running toilet
• Replace light bulbs
• Check/clean exhaust fans
• Thin out linen closet
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Remove cobwebs from corners and ceilings
• Clean floor tile
• Clean windows and vacuum out dead bugs and dust
• Repair/replace torn screens
• Remove carpets
• Clean curtains, shutters, mini blinds, etc
• Eliminate odors
• Clean or remove rugs
• Clean shower/tub
• Eliminate shower/tub clutter
• Clean mirrors
• Wall adornments
• Cabinet hardware/surfaces
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23. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 6 of 10
Entrance Hall
• Door bell functioning properly
• Interior of door painted and clean
• Door brass polished
• Hardware operating
• Light bulbs working
• Floor/baseboards clean
• Windows washed
• Ceiling and wall cracks repaired
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
• Room fans
22

24. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 7 of 10
Garage
• De clutter with items neatly stored in shelving or wall units
• Consider moving excess items to storage
• Clean floor
• Remove spider webs, lint and dirt
• Remove old paint etc.
• Remove excess kid toys
• Eliminate odors
• Move automobiles to street
• Garage door stable
• Garage door opener
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25. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 8 of 10
Laundry – Utility Room
• Clean appliances
• Clean floor
• De clutter room
• Eliminate odors
• Clean cobwebs
• Thin out any storage/shelves
• Wash/repair doorknobs and light switches
Miscellaneous Areas
• Eliminate smoke/pet odors
• Remove ashtrays
• Clean kitty litter box/dog kennel
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26. EXTERIOR
MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 9 of 10
Front – Back – Side Yards
• Keep lawn freshly mowed
• Neatly trim shrubs
• Maintain annuals
• Refresh painted driveway surface
• Remove mildew from exterior home surfaces
• Store garbage cans out of sight
• Fresh paint on front doors
• Clean/polish doorknobs/peep hole
• Make sure all locks operate correctly
• Make sure doorbell functions correctly
• Keep walkway to front door swept of debris/children’s toys
• Remove lawn clutter
• Replace any outdoor light bulbs
• Repair/replace mailbox
• Repair any gutter problems
• Fixtures
• Garden hoses
• Outdoor electrical caps
• Faucets
• Windows cleaned
• House paint
• Trim Paint
• Landscaping issues
• Garage Doors
25

27. MASTER CHECKLIST – Page 10 of 10
Pool Deck
• Remove pool deck clutter
• Clean pool
• Repair screening
• Clean pool deck
• Repair pool deck
• Clean any outdoor fans
• Replace any outdoor light bulbs
• Gutters
• House paint
• Trim Paint
• Windows cleaned
• Garden hoses
• Doors work
• Barbecue
• Fixtures
26

28. Walk-Around Checklist
KITCHEN COMMENTS
Ceilings
Cabinet Top Shelving
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Doors
Windows
Floors
Outlets & Switches
Refrigerator
Freezer
Stove/Oven
Microwave
Dishwasher
Sinks
Countertops
Cabinets & Drawers
Furniture
Adornments
27

29. Walk-Around Checklist
LIVING ROOM COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
28

30. Walk-Around Checklist
DINING ROOM COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
29

31. Walk-Around Checklist
FAMILY ROOM COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
30

32. Walk-Around Checklist
ENTRANCE COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
31

33. Walk-Around Checklist
MASTER BEDROOM COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
32

34. Walk-Around Checklist
BEDROOM 1 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
33

35. Walk-Around Checklist
BEDROOM 2 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
34

36. Walk-Around Checklist
BEDROOM 3 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
35

37. Walk-Around Checklist
BEDROOM 4 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
36

38. Walk-Around Checklist
DEN/OFFICE COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Furniture
Adornments
37

39. Walk-Around Checklist
MASTER BATHROOM COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Cabinets & Drawers
Shower
Bathtub
Toilet
Sink
Countertops
Adornments
38

40. Walk-Around Checklist
BATHROOM 1 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Cabinets & Drawers
Shower
Bathtub
Toilet
Sink
Countertops
Adornments
39

41. Walk-Around Checklist
BATHROOM 2 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Cabinets & Drawers
Shower
Bathtub
Toilet
Sink
Countertops
Adornments
40

42. Walk-Around Checklist
BATHROOM 3 COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Cabinets & Drawers
Shower
Bathtub
Toilet
Sink
Countertops
Adornments
41

43. Walk-Around Checklist
LAUNDRY/UTILITY RM. COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting & Fans
Walls & Molding
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
Washing Machine
Dryer
Adornments
42

44. Walk-Around Checklist
GARAGE COMMENTS
Ceilings
Lighting
Walls
Windows
Shelving
Doors
Outlets & Switches
Floors
43

45. Walk-Around Checklist
EXTERIOR & YARD COMMENTS
Lawn
Trees
Shrubs & Flowers
Adornments
Light Fixtures
Doors
Driveway
Walls & Trim Paint
Gutters
Windows & Screens
Faucets, Garden Hoses &
Electrical Outlets
Sidewalk
Mailbox
44

46. Walk-Around Checklist
POOL COMMENTS
Pool (Visual)
Deck
Screen, Doors &
Windows
Lighting & Fans
Landscaping
Walls & Trim Paint
Furniture & Storage
Adornments
45