Home Selling Checklists for Virtual Tours
SEPTEMBER 22, 2020 | Home Care Buzz Experts | 3 minute read
How to Prepare Your Home for Open House Tours
Are you getting a home ready for virtual tours by prospective buyers? Give your home-selling clients a great resource to help sell their homes this year with these comprehensive checklists for preparing the inside and outside of their homes.
Interior of Home
All Rooms:
- Remove or pull back dark curtains
- Wash lace curtains and have draperies cleaned if necessary
- Lubricate window slides (soap for wood, silicon, or a candle stump for metal)
- Make sure doors open smoothly
- Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures
- Check for cobwebs
- Fix scratches on hardwood floors
- Replace worn flooring
- Replace worn carpet
- Use area rugs if needed
- Empty wastebaskets
- Make the beds
- Fluff the pillows
- Repair leaky faucets
Thoroughly Clean:
- Doors
- Windows
- Light switches
- Baseboards
- Chair rails
Kitchen:
- Remove dishes and food from visitors' sight
- Clean appliances
- Clean behind appliances
- Keep the floor clean
- Clean the oven, range hood, filter, and light bulb
- Eliminate cooking odors
- Be sure the outlets work
- Clean light fixtures
- Deodorize the garbage disposal, dishwasher, and refrigerator
- Repair faucets
- Put fresh shelf paper in cabinets
- Organize cupboards
- Clean out under the sink
Bathrooms:
- Shine mirrors
- Empty wastebaskets
- Clean shower door
- Lubricate sliding shower doors
- Remove soap residue, mildew, and mold
- Remove stains from the sink, tub, and toilet
- Replace old shower curtains
- Clean tile grout
- Be sure the toilet flushes properly
- Be sure the septic tank is odor-free
- Clean and/or repair exhaust fan and heater
Storage and Utility Closets:
- Keep closets free of clutter
- Pack away nonessentials
- Adjust or repair sliding doors
- Lubricate sliding door hardware
- Paint, if needed
Basement:
- Eliminate any signs of dampness
- Check for and eliminate cracks
- Check the central heating and air conditioning unit
- Vacuum
- Replace air filter
- Clean intake vent
Garage, Carport, Shed:
- Keep the area clean and uncluttered
- Hang up or put away tools
- Clear away any cobwebs
- Remove oil and paint stains from the floor
- Adjust the tension rod on the overhead garage door
- Lubricate and/or repair garage door opener unit
- Paint if needed
Exterior of Home
Replace, Repair, and/or Paint
or Varnish Damaged:
- Plaster
- Wood siding
- Trim
- Rain gutters
- Shutters
- Window frames
- Hardware
- Glazing
- Screen doors
- Doors
- Doorbell and/or door knocker
- Fences and gates
- Walls
- Gazebos
- Fountains
- Trellises
- Planters
- Outdoor lighting
- Broken stepping stones
- Street numbers on the house
- Patch and/or reseal driveway
Clean or Wash:
- Siding
- Windows
- Screens
- Entryway and front porch
- Deck and patio
- Pool and/or spa
- Outdoor barbecue
- Air conditioning unit
- Around service areas and trash cans
- Polish door hardware
- Clean oil stains from the driveway, street, and sidewalks
Landscaping Tasks:
- Adjust any sprinklers; repair any broken or leaky sprinkler heads
- Straighten woodpile
- Mow and edge the lawn regularly
- Aerate and feed the lawn
- Seed bare spots on the lawn
- Water the lawn regularly
- Replace dead plants
- Haul away garbage
- Clean up pet droppings
- Prune overgrown shrubs
- Prune or remove greenery blocking the view from windows (unless the view is undesirable)
- Stake sagging trees and shrubs
- Weed gardens and flower beds
- Trim around the base of trees, walls, and fences
- Install fences or shrubs to hide any unsightly views
Check and/or Replace Light Bulbs in:
- Porch lights
- Carport
- Garage
- Appliances
Essential Tools
To help you complete these checklists, be sure to stock your toolbox with all of the essentials:
- Adjustable crescent wrench
- Adjustable pliers with a locking mechanism
- Claw hammer
- Flat-head screwdriver
- Handheld level
- Heavy-duty flashlight and extra batteries
- Heavy-duty scissors
- Outdoor electrical extension cord (minimum 25 feet)
- Phillips-head screwdriver
- Power drill and drill bits
- Putty knife
- Safety goggles
- Tape measure (minimum 12 feet)
- Work gloves
- Utility knife
Download Virtual Tours Checklist
The contents of this article are provided for general guidance only. First American Home Warranty does not assume any responsibility for losses or damages as a result of using this information.
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Home Care Buzz Experts
The First American Home Care Buzz team is made up of experienced home warranty writers and editors. Our team provides valuable insights and information to help homeowners like you meet the daily challenges of homeownership. Â
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