· Clean all home areas thoroughly for optimal cleanliness including washing all windows. This is the time to hire that maid service to do the most thorough job. Clean even those hard to see areas. People do and will examine every corner.
· Remove and repair signs of water damage, mildew and other deterioration. Repair ceilings. There was a recent story that made headlines of a ceiling colapsing in the middle of an open house. While an interesting tale to recant at parties, you DO NOT want this happening at your showing.
· Repaint with a double coat of flat white on walls and eggshell white on ceilings. Even if you love tahitian pink in the bathroom or spicy salmon in the living room, when potential buyers see a home for sale they must be able to invision it as their own. Think of presenting your apartment as a blank slate. In fact, for this reason, many brokers suggest the owners not be present at the open house. It is easier for a potential buyer to envision a property as their own with no signs of past owners.
· Repair existing wallpaper and restore floor surfaces.
· Clean floor tile grout with a mild muriatic acid solution and re-grout if needed.
· Restore or repair bathroom fixtures. Add new shower curtains, rods and hooks. No mildew. Your apartment should look like a catalog picture or showroom.
· Repair kitchen cabinets, making sure doors and drawers work properly.
· Increase existing lighting. Dust, clean or replace old fixtures and bulbs. If there is a view or a great exposure open those windows and shades. If there is an undesirable view, try to not do anything to accentuate it. Leave blinds closed and use soft lighting.
· Eliminate odors. Remove pet when showing the apartment and be sure to remove litter box and garbage. Conceal odors by baking cake or setting out flowers.
· Expand bathroom, closet and hallway size by installing mirrors and thinning out clothes and furniture.
· Undo clutter, make beds, put away any personal traces.
· Shampoo carpets for deep cleaning that helps reduce the allergens caused by dust mites, pollen, dust and pet dander. It helps to deep clean, brighten and deodorize your carpets.