Prepare to Show and Sell Your Highlands Ranch Home

Tips to enhance your homes value and sell it faster:

Depersonalize Your Home
- It all starts with thinking of your home as a house and not your home. This house will soon be someone else's home.
- Keep in mind that it's difficult for most buyers to imagine a house looking different than it does.
- Remove all personal photographs, trophies, nameplates, etc.
- It helps to think of your house as a model home. When's the last time you saw personal items in a model home?
Remove Clutter
It seems that no matter the size of our house, we can fill it up with stuff. If you haven't used an item within the last year, you most likely won't need it while your house is on the market. Consider the following:
- Have a garage sale or donate the things you don't need.
- Rent a dumpster for items that have no value.
- Pack collections and knick knacks.
- Clear off countertops and remove books from bookshelves.
- Clear out unnecessary items and organize closets to make them appear larger.
- Clear out and organize kitchen and bathroom cabinets.
- If you have a basement with a limited amount of items, organize in boxes. Make sure there's plenty of room to walk around. If you have a lot of items, consider renting a storage unit.
Rearrange and Remove Large Furniture
Maybe you have a King size bed in a Queen size bedroom. Most homes show better with less furniture.
- Remove very large furniture pieces and rent a storage unit to put them in.
- Leave enough furniture in each room to define the purpose of the room but allow plenty of open space to move around.
- Remove extra leaves from your dining room table.
- Change the areas where you've felt cramped. You get the idea.
Remove Items That Don't Stay With The Home
Before you put your home on the market is the time to switch out chandeliers, window coverings or appliances. Even if your favorite heirloom is listed as excluded, a buyer may still want it and it may be a deal killer. Legend has it that a buyer in Colorado once walked away from buying a multi-million dollar home over a bar stool.
Make Necessary Repairs
When a buyer sees a broken door knob or other visible item in a state of disrepair, they have a tendency to wonder whether or not the entire home has been maintained.
- Repair door handles, knobs, latches & locks.
- Repair doors and windows that don't open properly.
- Repair leaky faucets and toilets
- Repair holes in walls and ceilings
- Replace broken floor tiles, refinish wood flooring, replace old or worn carpet.
- Paint rooms neutral colors, especially if you have rooms with unusually bright colors.
- Paint interior garage walls.
- Replace light bulbs
A Little Cleaning Goes a Long Way
- Clean all windows and doors.
- Power wash exterior siding and decking.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, furniture and other areas where there are cob webs.
- Replace furnace filter
- Clean and polish all kitchen & bathroom surfaces.
- Caulk & grout tub walls, sinks & shower walls
- Clean out the refrigerator and oven. Yes, buyers will look in there.
- Vacuum carpet every day.
- Replace old or worn rugs.
- Clean out and paint the garage.
- Hang fresh towels in the kitchen and bathrooms.
- Keep pet areas clean. Clean out litter box as necessary and pick up after your dog daily.
Maintain Exterior and Curb Appeal
- Keep the lawn mowed, bushes trimmed, snow cleared and sidewalks free of clutter.
- Remove unnecessary items from the side and rear yards. Store extra vehicles off site including ATV and motorcycles, RVs, etc.
- Paint exterior if necessary, especially front doors and trim.
- Plant flowers and make minor improvements to landscaping.
Final Exam
Imagine yourself as the buyer. Drive up to your house, walk across the street and take a picture. Does the house look inviting? How about the front door and porch area? Now take a walk through the house.
- As you walk through the house, turn on every light.
- How does the house smell? Are there any offensive pet, smoke or chemical odors?
- What sounds do you hear? Any beautiful music playing?
- Walk around to each room as if it was your first time in the house. Is it easy to move around? Does it seem clean? Do you notice any personal items or clutter areas that need attention?
- Finally, how does the house compare to a model home? Is it depersonalized and well lit?
Preparing for Showings
- Check your curb appeal again. Is the yard mowed and clutter removed from entry areas, decks and patios? Is the snow removed from walks and the driveway? Put a small amount of sand or salt on concrete areas during icy conditions.
- Pets - If you can't remove your dog, confine it to a dog run, carrier or the garage. Even though your dog may be friendly, some people are frightened by dogs they don't know. It's also a good idea to confine your dog for liability reasons. Dogs that have never bitten anyone before may bite if frightened.
- Straighten up every room including children's rooms, halls, closets, kitchen & bathroom countertops, bedrooms, etc.
- Open window coverings and turn on all lights.
- Turn on some soft background music like Jazz or Classical.
- The importance of smells cannot be overstated. Make sure there are no pet or overpowering chemical odors (like cleaning products). The best smells are those that create warm and inviting feelings, such as Vanilla or fresh baked cookies.
- Leave the home when the buyer pulls up for the showing. It's best for you not to be at the house during showings. When you're not there, buyers are free to talk, look around and become comfortable. Your presence will only make the buyers feel uncomfortable. They will hesitate to bring up objections for fear of hurting your feelings. Let the agent sell your home and overcome objections if there are any, or better yet, with all of your hard work and preparation the home should sell itself.

Russ Harrist
Realtor® and
Certified Appraiser

1745 Shea Center Dr., #110
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Direct: 303-470-1130
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