This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Key Rules to Showing Your Home: Preparing the Interior

If you’re considering putting your home on the market, you’re going to want to do everything possible to make sure that every showing counts. Before potential buyers start walking through the door, you should stage your home for sale. While it may at first seem daunting to de-clutter and clean up after years of living in your home, a targeted approach can get you results fast.

First, start by sorting your belongings into five categories with your showings in mind: sell, store, toss, donate, and keep. Go through your home, room by room, and decide which of your furnishings and decorations fall into each of these categories. Then tackle the house one room at a time. It can be useful to rent a Dumpster if you are planning on getting rid of large or heavy items. You might also wish to rent a local storage unit for items you wish to keep but would be better not to display during showings. Boxes of mementos and off-season clothing that are cluttering your closets should also be stored. If you plan to sell items on Craigslist, be cautious about any deals you make to ensure that you are working with a serious buyer.

Once you’ve pared down your possessions, it’s time to stage your home as you want it to look during showings. Here are a few tips that will increase your home’s appeal:

Find out what's happening in Danverswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

·  The Bathroom.  Bathrooms need to look as clean and neutral as possible, so stow away any toiletries, used bar soaps, equipment, and anything else that isn’t purely decorative. Do not leave out tissue boxes and make sure there is a full roll of toilet paper in the holder. Other items to keep out of sight include bathroom scales, plungers, and toilet brushes. Remove any toilet set covers and rugs around the base of the toilet. Replace colored, padded, or wooden toilet seats and make sure the toilet seat lid is closed.

·  The Bedroom. Replace wire clothing hangers in your closets with plastic hangers – preferably white ones. Hide away personal photos, trophies, and other memorabilia. Also stow collectibles like dolls, figurines, or stuffed animals. Dirty laundry should be kept out of sight in a hamper or laundry chute. Clean laundry should be placed in closets and drawers.

Find out what's happening in Danverswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

·  The Kitchen. Like bathrooms, kitchens are utilitarian and tend to look “lived in.” In addition to keeping surfaces clean, remove unnecessary countertop items and appliances. Do not leave trash cans where they can be seen. Hide them away in a closet or cupboard. Remove countertop paper towel holders, refrigerator magnets, dish drainers, and drain stoppers. Store sponges, dish towels, and scrub brushes beneath the sink. 

·  The Living Area. As with the bedrooms, remove photos and mementos. Minimize or eliminate throw rugs, as they give floor space an uneven or fragmented appearance. Under no circumstances should you display throw rugs on top of carpeting. Make sure any houseplants are well watered and healthy looking. Toss or hide newspapers, mail, and other papers. Make certain that no mouse or roach traps are left out.

By following these rules, you will eliminate clutter and potential buyers will be able to envision their own belongings in your space. And the great news is that this fresh start can carry over into any new home you purchase!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?