The Basics
Interior Home Prep
Kitchen:
A few items on the counters are usually fine; however, I suggest removing the following:
All Dishes
Soap Dispensers
Sponges
Rags
Drying Racks
All Magnets, Pictures, etc. from the refrigerator
Throw Rugs / Standing Mats
Anything on top of the refrigerator
Unsightly / Decomposing Fruit
Phone Chargers
Trash Cans
Bathrooms:
Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Razors
Hair Dryers
Phone Chargers
All Personal Items
Floor Rugs (Unless they match with other decor)
Item in showers with glass doors. (Even if the item is obscured, the color and shape will still appear in photos and look visually distracting.)
Bedrooms: All bedrooms should have their beds made and items put away.
Laundry Rooms:
Soaps from sink
Mops & Brooms
Baskets and Garbage Cans
Cleaning Products
Detergents and Dryer Sheets
General Home Prep:
Trash Cans: Trash cans can distract so it’s best to hide all of them in closets or the garage.
Clear entryways: Remove all shoes, umbrellas, and similar items from entryways.
Turn off ceiling fans: Before I arrive, please make sure all ceiling fans are turned off.
Remove children / pet toys.
Turn off all TVs.
Hide all remotes
Dust Fans
Note: If you're unsure about whether to leave something or remove it, it's almost always a safe bet to remove it.
Exterior Home Prep:
Remove Garbage Cans (The garage would be the safest place.)
Remove Cars from driveway.
Wrap up hoses.
Put all children / pet toys away.
The Professional
Exterior Home Prep
Want to earn some serious money for your listing? With a small monetary investment and some sweat equity, these tips normally have high returns on their investment.
Painting interior walls a bright neutral color:
Bright. Brighter spaces feel larger and more cheerful than dark spaces.
Neutral colors. Many homes just being painted straight white would look better than their current condition.
Basements: Many basements with cement block look much better with a coat of white or another brighter color. This helps brighten the basements and gives them a cleaner feeling.
Lighting
Kelvin temperature. Choose bulbs with a Kelvin Temperature between 3000K - 4000K. Natural Sunlight is ~5600K. Tungsten lighting is ~2000-2,500K and will make gray walls look brown. Higher temperatures like 6,000 and above make your home look sterile like a lab or factory.
No harsh direct lighting. If you're looking to replace a few fixtures, try to choose one that has diffused light and no bare-bulbs.
Cabinet Pulls: These small pieces can completely change a kitchen. Going from a dated, small cabinet pull to a more tasteful one can make an unbelievable difference.
Staging:Staging makes one of the biggest differences in how a room looks or feels. By staging your home, you're creating a "space" that gives an example to a potential buyer on what the room could be.
Option 1: Stage your home yourself. Don't know where to get started? Look on websites like Pinterest to get plenty of ideas for bedrooms kitchens and baths.
Option 2: Hire a professional. While costly, a professional does a great deal to ensure your home is looking it's best.
Option 3: Virtual staging. Sharper Home Media can stage a home virtually. Just make sure the room is mostly empty before photographs.