Checklist: How to Get Your House Ready to Sell

When it's time to sell your home, you have a million things running through your head and it's my job as your realtor to make the selling process as simple as possible. If you're selling, here's a checklist of all the things you need to do before your home hits the market.

In All Rooms

• dust décor and fixtures

• polish wood

• clean walls/trim/baseboards

• wipe light switches and outlet covers

• clean window sills and glass

• sweep/mop/vacuum floors

• vacuum vents and fan blades

• dust electronics and organize cords

• dust blinds and launder curtains

Entryway

• clean or replace door mat

Coat Closet

• empty EVERYTHING

• donate unneeded items

Office

• discard old clippings, junk mail, etc.

• test pens to see if they work, if they don’t chuck ‘em!

• organize loose paper into file folders

• throw out expired coupons

• dust printer, computer, desk, phone, etc.

• remove all unnecessary items from desk

Living Room

• launder all sofa cushions and blankets

• sort and donate unneeded magazines, books, board games, etc.

• sanitize children’s toys in hot soapy water

• donate unused toys

Dining Room

• replace seasonal linens

• polish dining table

Bathrooms

• remove all items from cabinets and wash inside

• discard expired medications and cosmetics

• clean tub/shower/tile

• clean toilet/sink/hardware

Laundry Room

• remove all cleaners/tools/etc. from shelves, wipe down and replace neatly

• clean sink and drains

• wipe down exterior of washer and dryer

• clean dryer lint trap with hot soapy water and vinegar

• run clean cycle for machines

Linen Closet

• remove EVERYTHING

• fold all linens, organize, and rewash if necessary

• organize miscellaneous items with baskets

Bedrooms

• clean out closet and drawers and donate unwanted/unused items

• launder bedding, pillows, protectors, and curtains

• remove items from under bed, organize, and return items neatly

Kitchen

• scrub backsplash

• remove cookbooks and sedentary items, clean and replace neatly

• clean cabinets - scrub faces and hardware, remove items – wipe down and replace

• clean stove - remove drip pans and replace, scrub top, remove and wipe knobs, clean inside oven

• clean refrigerator – remove everything, clean shelves and drawers, throw away expired items, dust and clean top, vacuum underneath

• clean pantry – remove everything, wipe down shelves, discard expired items, return items neatly and organized

• clean sink and hardware

• clean microwave

Pets

• wash bedding

• soak and wash plush toys in hot water

• sanitize hard plastic bones and toys

• empty and clean crates/kennels/aquariums

• wash water and food dishes

• clean eating area thoroughly

• clean and sanitize litter box

• gather pet info and organize into a binder

Computer

• back up to external hard drive

• organize pictures into events and year

• update virus protection

• remove unnecessary files and empty trash

• clean up bookmarks/temp files/etc.

• wipe down exterior with microfiber cloth

Daily Cleaning

• AM: Make beds, tidy bedroom, tidy bathroom, sweep floors, empty dishwasher, one load of laundry.

• PM: Vacuum main floor, tidy kitchen, load dishwasher, wipe countertops, fold laundry, scoop cat litter.

Weekly Cleaning

• Kitchen: Clean counters, stove, microwave and floor, wipe down surfaces and discard old food.

• Bedrooms: Change sheets, clear clutter, dust/wipe down surfaces, vacuum.

• Living Room: Wash floors, clean pet hair off sofa, dust/wipe down surfaces, pick up and put away, spot clean rug.

• Bathrooms: Clean toilet, tub/shower, tile, sink, floor, mirror, wipe down walls.

• Laundry: Vacuum/clean floor, wipe down surfaces, pick up and put away, clean sink, wipe down machines, empty garbage.

Monthly Cleaning

• vacuum stairs

• flip and clean mattresses

• launder seat cushions covers

• clean rugs, mats and furniture

• wash mattress protector

• clean cycle washer and dryer

• launder blankets

• launder curtains and dust blinds

• clean out bath and kitchen cabinets

• clean all kitchen appliances

• clean walls, baseboards, doors and windows

• wash out litter box

Checked Everything Off This List? Let's Chat!