How to Prepare a Vacant Home for Sale

Vacant real estate listings can feel cold, empty and uninviting. Set yours apart from the competition with these tips for more interest and better offers. The goal: a fast, profitable sale!

Increase curb appeal

• Touch up peeling/worn paint or repaint if needed
• Remove any garden art, lawn ornaments and bird feeders
• In Summer, have lawn freshly mowed, weeds removed, bushes trimmed
• In Spring/Fall, clear all leaves and dead plants; mulch in Spring
• In Winter, clear driveway, steps, sidewalks and all walkways of snow
• Make sure house numbers are clearly visible

Pay attention to the front door

• Remove any dirt, cobwebs or debris around the door and clean door glass
• In Winter, treat walkways and steps with a sand/salt mixture
• Add a new welcome mat at the door exterior and a new rug inside

Make it bright

• Ensure all light fixtures are working and replace bulbs as needed
• Open all window curtains and shades to let natural light in
• In Winter, consider leaving the porch light and one light on inside (or on a timer)

Fix anything broken

• Do an inventory of each room and note what needs attention
• Fix or replace what you can, hire professionals to handle the rest

Clean, clean, clean!

• Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, everything needs to be cleaned, top to bottom
• Kitchens and baths: deep clean all surfaces, wipe cabinets and drawers, shine fixtures and glass
• Wipe down walls, clean light fixtures, remove dust and cobwebs, clean baseboards and flooring throughout

Eliminate odors

• Have all carpets professionally cleaned; remove and replace any exceptionally worn or soiled carpet
• Open all windows periodically to let fresh air in; use fans or humidifiers when not being shown

Bring in something live

• Add flowers at the front door: Spring–pansies, Summer–geraniums/petunias, Fall–mums, Winter–evergreens
• Place a vase of flowers or a potted flowering plant on the kitchen counter or island

Make it comfortable

• Set the thermostat to 65-70 degrees so visitors are neither too hot nor too cold and humidity isn’t a factor

Consider vacant home staging

• Serious about getting top dollar for your home? Our best recommendations is to have it professionally staged. It elevates buyers’ impressions, and will bring your listing to a whole new level against the competition. Ask me how.