Open House Checklist for Preparing to Sell a House

Browse each room and rate your home from a buyer's perspective when considering different homes for sale.
Weigh the options of hiring a professional home inspector and making repairs as needed.
Have a yard sale! Sell, donate, or throw out any items you do not need.

Do a complete cleaning of your entire home.
Consider doing a steam cleaning of your carpets and drapes.
Do a thorough scrubbing of the tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms.
Deep clean the hardwood floors.
Get rid of the spider webs and the dust bunnies
Removed the oversized furniture that may clutter the home.
Rearrange furniture in the rooms to present the most space.
Fix any holes/cracks in the walls that you've been putting off.
Painting the walls in neutral colors will display your home nicely.
Clear the small appliances, toys, magazines, and pet items from view.
Remove any personal items (photos, medications) from view.
Clean and organize the room closets.
Empty out the garage and store items off the premises.
Valuable items, cash, jewelry, and important documents should be safely secured.

Clear out the gutters and downspouts.
Edge the walkways. Mow, water, and fertilize your lawn.
Rake the excess leaves after you've trimmed the bushes and trees.
Paint the exterior of your home. Don't forget details such as the trim, doors, and shutters.
Inspect the exterior of the home and the roof so you can make any repairs.
Mend any cracks that you may have in the driveway or sidewalks.
The siding, eves, and windows should be power washed.
Be sure to stow away and toys or unnecessary items from the lawn.
Plant vibrant flowers in the yard or flower beds. Use flower pots on the porch.
Clean up any pet droppings that your four-legged friend may have left behind.
Sweep the walkways and the entryway to your home.

Have refreshments out to offer.
Keep the televisions off.
Do not smoke in the home.
Light some scented candles or bake some goodies.
If it is a nice day, open the windows to let some air in.
Have the blinds/curtains open to let in some light.
Turn all of the lights on and replace bulbs with high wattage incandescent bulbs to brighten the rooms.
Have a place to keep your pets on the open house day.

Inform everyone, family, friends, and neighbors of the time and date of the open house.
Advertise your MLS listing in the local newspapers, real estate publications, and on free sites such as FlatFee.com.
Have an exclusive broker's open house to let agents in your area know that your home is available and have refreshments ready.
Open House signs should be put on the front lawn and nearby intersections with directions to your home.

Have a fact sheet with your contact information and a description of the home's features for every visitor. A home flyer is available at FlatFee.com.
Have the visitors sign a guestbook or open house sign in sheet.
Be sure to have important documents available such as homeowner's associate rules, inspection reports, and purchase offer forms.
Show them why you love the house!

Home Seller's