One thing that you need to know when getting ready to sell a house: a DIRTY house does not sell. Here are a few tips to get your listings ready to sell.

Keep the yard cleaned and trimmed

Curb appeal is one of the most important aspects of selling a house. Yards should look inviting. If the grass is un-kept it will not be attractive for those driving up, and they might not even get out of their car.

TIPS:

• The yard should be maintained for the entire length of the selling process.
• The yard should be edged and any flower beds mulched.
• Remove all phone books, flyers, mail, and newspapers from the house so that it does not look vacant.

Clean the House

Your house should be cleaned from top to bottom. It should be immaculate.

THE BASICS:

• Rid the house of all cobwebs and dust that accumulates on the ceiling and above the ceiling fan.
• Clean all surfaces on light fixtures and ceiling fans.
• Dust all horizontal surfaces: this should include panels on doors, tops of switch and outlet covers, top of baseboard molding, windows and window sills, and shelves (including inside of closets).
• All nails should be removed from the walls (vacant houses)
• Garbage and belongings should be removed
• Carpets should be vacuumed and washed and all dust removed from the house. Use a carpet deodorizer to help give the entire house a clean fresh smell.

Remember that kitchens and bathrooms sell houses, so they should be the rooms in the house most attended to.

• Make sure the kitchen counters and appliances are cleaned and that there is nothing cluttering the counters.
• Clean inside of the oven, refrigerator, microwave and any other appliance.
• Mirrors should be wiped down.
• If your house is vacant, run water in all sinks, bathtubs and showers once every other week. Sewer gases will creep into the house if the water evaporates from the p-traps.

Fix Everything Broken

If certain aspects of the house need to be fixed up, then fix them! Whether a room needs to be painted or a hole needs to be patched, the house must appear in great condition. Remember the property value increases as the house condition is fixed.