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A "well-polished" house will appeal to more buyers and will sell faster for a higher price. Buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because they'll assume that what they can't see has probably also been well maintained.

Disassociate Yourself with Your Home

Make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions. You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, it may take longer to sell your property.

De-Personalize - Make Your Home "Anonymous"

When a buyer sees your family photos hanging on the wall, it puts your own brand on the home and momentarily shatters their illusions about living in the house themselves. Put away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick-knacks, and souvenirs.

De-Clutter

This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects so that it may not be evident to you.

Kitchen Clutter

First, get everything off the counters. Homebuyers will open all your cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their "stuff." If your kitchen cabinets, pantries, and drawers look jammed full, it sends a negative message to the buyer and does not promote an image of plentiful storage space. For that reason, if you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk. Do this with every cabinet and drawer. Create open space.

Beneath the sink is critical. Make sure the area beneath the sink is as empty as possible. Scrub the area down as well, and determine if there are any tell-tale signs of water leaks that may cause a buyer to hesitate in buying your home.

Rearrange Closets and Cabinets

Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Imagine what a buyer believes about you if they see everything organized.

• Alphabetize spice jars.
• Neatly stack dishes.
• Line up shoes.

Furniture Clutter

Many people have too much furniture in certain rooms to give the illusion of space that a homebuyer would like to see. Every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper walkways and put them in storage. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. Ensure that all beds are well presented.

Storage Area Clutter

Basements, garages, and sheds accumulate junk. These areas should be as empty as possible so that buyers can imagine what they would do with the space. Remove anything that is not essential and put it in storage or have a garage sale.

Remove/Replace Favourite Items

If you want to take window coverings or built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them. Once you tell a buyer they can't have an item, they will covet it, and this could jeopardise your sale.

The Front Door & Entryway

Your house's entry should be inviting, well lit, clean and de-cluttered. Ensure that the front door bell works. Hallway floorboards should not squeak, move or lift.

The front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway into the house. Refinish or repaint the door and polish the door fixture so it gleams. Plaques or shingles should be removed and a plush new door mat added.

Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around twiddling their thumbs, this sends a negative first impression to prospective buyers.

Kitchen

• Clean all appliances especially the oven
• Clean or replace the stove hood filter
• Clean all countertops and splashbacks thoroughly
• Clean or whiten tiled floor grout
• Never leave dirty dishes in the sink

Bathrooms

• Ensure all lights are operational and at the highest wattage
• Clean all ceramic tiles and grout
• Unclog and sanitize drains
• Remove mildew
• Keep all toilet lids closed

Plumbing and Fixtures

When looking at a house, prospective home buyers often do not really know what to do. So they open everything with a handle. They turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets. Having nice shiny fixtures makes an impression. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak.

Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that there are no stains on any of the porcelain. If you have a difficult stain to remove hire a professional cleaner.

Ceilings, Walls, and Painting

Check all the ceilings for water stains. Find the leak and repair it. Nothing irritates a buyer more than finding out - after the fact - about plumbing or roofing leaks.

Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.

Carpet and Flooring

All carpeting should be steam cleaned and any worn, stained or foul smelling carpet replaced. Repair or replace broken floor tiles.

Windows and Doors

Check all windows to make sure they open and close easily and that there are no cracked or broken window panes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.

Do the same things with the doors. All torn screens should be repaired or replaced. Be sure the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp. As buyers go from room to room opening doors, you want to do everything necessary to create a positive impression.

Odour Control

Minimize smoking indoors by purchasing an ozone spray that helps to remove odours without creating a masking odour. Pets also come with odours. You may have become used to them, but their odour is immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses. Be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily and use plenty of baking soda. Dogs should be kept outdoors as much as possible. You might also try sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet. Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people may be allergic or find the smells of those sprays offensive. If you want to have a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or something natural.

Make All Necessary Repairs

Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice-and likely magnify minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or even years. These repairs may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your home.

• Replace cracked floor or counter tiles
• Patch holes in walls
• Fix leaky faucets
• Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam
• Consider painting your walls in neutral colors
• Replace burned-out light bulbs
• Replace worn bedspreads

Maximizing Your House's Interior Appeal

• Even though you your house may be clean and tidy, a thorough cleaning perhaps by professionals including dusting, washing and waxing everything is essential:
• Wash windows inside and out
• Clean blinds and drapes
• Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior
• Clean out cobwebs
• Re-grout tubs, showers and sinks
• Polish chrome faucets and mirrors
• Clean out the freezer and refrigerator
• Vacuum daily
• Mop and wax floors
• Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures
• Bleach dingy grout
• Replace worn rugs
• Hang up fresh towels
• Clean and air out any musty smelling areas
• No dirty dishes in the sink
• No laundry in the washer/dryer
• Clean or replace dirty or worn carpets
• Turn off televisions and put on soft music
• Burn wood in the fireplace on cold days, otherwise, the fireplace should be clean
• Repaint dingy, soiled or strongly coloured walls with a neutral shade of paint
• Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the basement
• Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles
• Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork
• Inspect and repair plumbing, heating, cooling, and alarm systems
• Repair dripping faucets and showerheads
• Spruce up a kitchen with new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint
• Make sure your house is at a comfortable temperature

Lighting

Turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and brightens up any dim areas.

Pet Control

Take the pets with you while the buyers tour your home or keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard.

The Kitchen Trash

Make sure you empty your kitchen trash every time someone comes to look at your home. You want to send a positive image about every aspect of your home.

Keep the House Tidy

Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is important. Pick up papers, do not leave empty glasses in the family room, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home, a home with furniture where nobody really lives.

Introduce Lifestyle Accessories

Set the dining room table with your best dishes. Put out your best towels. Make up the spare bed. Hang some fresh curtains. Use your imagination.

Get a Buyer's-Eye View

Walk up to your home and pretend you've never seen it before. How do you feel about what you see? Go outside and open your front door. Does the home seem inviting and well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? Linger in the doorway of every room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around. Tune in to the room's statement and its emotional pull. Does it have impact and pizzazz?

Check Curb Appeal

A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on its curb appeal, the view they see when they drive by or arrive for a showing. The next time you come home, stop across the street to get a good view of the house. What is your first impression of the house and yard area? What are the best exterior features of the house? How can you enhance them? What are the worst exterior features of the house? How can you improve them? Park where a potential buyer would walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Make a list of the problem areas you discovered. Tackle clean up and repair chores first, then put some time into projects that make the grounds more attractive.

Landscaping

Buy a few bushes and plant mature, colourful flowers. They add a splash of vibrancy and colour, creating a favourable first impression. Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. Rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings. Clean ponds of weeds.

The House's Exterior

When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded? Painting is often a good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding to your sale price. When choosing a colour, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a colour that fits well in your neighbourhood.

If you know your roof leaks, repair it. Otherwise you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want an entire new roof.

The Back Yard

The back yard should be tidy. If you have a pool or spa, keep it freshly maintained and constantly cleaned. For those that have dogs, constantly keep the area clear of "debris." If you have swing sets or anything elaborate remove them.

Maximizing Curb Appeal

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  Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly
• Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly
• Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling
• Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint
• Clean and align gutters and downpipes
• Properly grade areas under downpipes around the house so rainwater flows away from foundations
• Replace missing shutters, gutters and downpipes
• Mend and paint fences
• Inspect and clean the chimney
• Repair and replace loose or damaged roof tiles
• Re-seal an asphalt driveway
• Keep your garage door closed
• Store old or beaten up cars elsewhere
• Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door
• Add a few showy annuals near your front entrance.
• Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number
• Kill mould and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof, or driveway
• Wash and seal, stain or paint decks and porches
• Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools
• Clean windows
• Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks
• Rake and dispose of leaves
• Ensure all exterior lights are operational

Evening Curb Appeal

Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk, because it isn't unusual for potential buyers to drive by houses in the evening. One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting:

• String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near landscaping
• Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch
• Make sure lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.

Showing Your House

Your house should always be available for show, even when inconvenient for you. Otherwise, agents will have to schedule appointments, which is an inconvenience.

Try Not to Be Home

Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit, and they might not be as receptive toward viewing your home. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to remain in an out of they way area of the house and do not move from room to room. Do not volunteer any information, but answer any questions the agent may ask.