Hilton Head Island Sellers Need To Prepare Each Room For Buyers

Living Room

Dust and vacuum. A clean house gives the impression that it is well taken care of. Open the window treatments and let in as much light as possible. Take a look at the furniture to make sure it is clean and free of pet hair. Also, too much furniture could make the room look small and cramped so consider removing the larger, more cumbersome pieces of furniture and placing them in storage until the home sells.

Keep in mind traffic flow. Arrange the furniture so that people can easily move through the room.

Master Bedroom

Make the bed and put away clothes, clutter, and personal items such as pictures and certificates. Clear off the dresser and nightstand and empty laundry hampers that do not have lids. Keep jewelry and expensive items locked in a safe place. Remove any items under the bed (such as shoes or boxes). You don't want to give the impression the house doesn't provide enough storage.

Children's Bedroom

The kid's bedroom will give you the biggest challenge—you want to keep your house as neat as possible while on the market.

Put away all toys on a daily basis and make sure the floors are kept clear. You may want to invest in a toy chest if you do not already have one. You can also involve the kids in the home-selling process out by asking them to keep their personal spaces clean; they will feel as though they are contributing to the success of the sale.

Kitchen

Begin by taking everything off the counters (the coffee maker, crock pot, toaster, can opener, etc). Put all items in a cupboard and take them out only when you use them. Home buyers will open all cabinets and drawers, especially in the kitchen. They want to be sure there is enough room for their "stuff." If your kitchen cabinets, drawers, and pantries look jammed-packed, your buyer will feel the space is cramped. If you have a "junk drawer," get rid of the junk.

Since buyers will be keeping an eye out for leaky faucets and plumbing, the area under the sink is critical. Make sure this area is as empty as possible and again, remove everything including all cleaning supplies. Scrub the area down and look for signs of water leaks. You might want to cover the bottom shelf with a fresh layer of shelf paper to make it look clean and new.

TIP: If you have a lot of canned goods crammed into the shelves or pantry, start using them up or donating them to local charities. This will keep you from having to deal with them on moving day, or paying someone to move them for you

Bathrooms

Clean. Clean. Clean! You cannot overdo this room. Make it sparkle! Put fresh (new if possible) towels on the racks. Always keep the trash bin empty—you never know when you'll get a last-minute showing request. Remove cleaning items from underneath the sink and check the plumbing for leaks. Make any necessary repairs and replace any damaged surface. Keep cabinets and storage areas as clear as possible. Go over bath and shower areas to remove mold, mildew, and water spots. If you have a shower curtain, make sure it is in good shape or consider replacing it if needed.

TIP: Keep all medicine locked up and out of sight for everyone's safety.

Garage

Keep the garage door closed during showings. Make sure that all items are neatly placed and look organized on hooks or pegboard if necessary. Again, this will show that you took care of the house. Check the floor and remove grease spots; several industrial strength cleaners are on the market specifically for removing grease stains. Sweep the floor thoroughly and remove cobwebs from the walls and ceiling. If you find the garage has an unpleasant odor, place an air freshener inconspicuously in the room. Since the garage door will be closed you will need as much light as possible, so use the highest-wattage bulb your garage fixture will safely allow.