A home is where life happens. That means it is hardly spic and span most of the time. Once you decide to sell, the home is no longer a part of your life. It is simply a product that must be moved off the shelf. That means tuning it up.



Consider the view from the various windows in your home. If there is a positive view, pull back all drapes and blinds so there is a clear and obvious view of it. If the view is not so hot, leave the drapes and blinds down, but sort of open.

Live anywhere for more than a few minutes and you will produce trash. Make sure all trash receptacles are empty before the open house. Open houses are about stimulating the senses, not making them curdle with the smell of garbage.

The shower doors are often a closely inspected item. Do not just clean them. Go the extra step. Clean them and then use a window squeegee to finish them off. You want them to look brand spanking new.

The toilets are another area that will get attention. Clean them thoroughly. Make sure to get the area behind the area where they tilt up and the outer section of the bowl where it meets the floor. The seat should be left down.

Another vital room is the kitchen. Buyers will inspect it like a diamond. Everything, and I mean everything, should be sparkling. The kitchen is a room that can make or break a sale. Bake an apple pie to make sure it smells nice as well.

The entire kitchen is vital, but the stove is of particular importance. The top burners should be clean as should the area below. The baking areas should also be sparkling. Remove anything that remotely looks like it does not belong.

The refrigerator is another area in the kitchen that will be looked at closely. It should be gleaming. Remove the shelves and clean everything. Make sure to include the ice box when you do the work.

At this point, the home should be pretty clean, but there are a couple of things left that still clutter it up. What? Your family and pets. The open house is a period where they are forbidden to be in the home. Give them the boot.

Ultimately, you want the home to look as new and buffed out as possible. It is the equivalent of selling a used car. Get it spic and span. Only then will your open house be a success.