Prepping for Sale

My realtor service provides me with a stylist who comes in and tells me all the things I can do to set my condo up for sale. As I hope to put it on the market beginning next week, it is really good that I have this week off.

Since yesterday when she came, I have repaired grouting in the bathroom, selected and scheduled new carpets for Thursday, begun the repainting of the bedroom by spackling, prepping, and priming and started the bathroom water damage repairs.

A great start, but lots to do. It may not be perfect to go on the market on Monday, but it should be a lot closer.

I received the email from the stylist and here’s the list of things she wants me to change:

First and foremost, the apartment needs to be immaculately clean and uncluttered.

The Top 3 Big Items
1. Repainting of your bedroom, along with the lesser painting jobs in the kitchen and the baseboard moldings
2. Water repairs in the bathroom
3. Installing new carpet in the bedrooms.

The list is:

• Repair the buzzer.
• Remove the brown recliner
• Remove the wooden end table, the small flag table, the dried floral wreath, and the Trade Center puzzle.
• In the bar cabinet, leave the glasses and the Eiffel Tower print and remove everything else.
• Paint over the blue band under the counter.
• Clean spotlessly.
• Remove all the items from the tops of counters, tops of cabinets, and top of the fridge.
• Remove the two small rugs, the key caddies, and the photos from the fridge.
• Clean the bowl of the light fixture and add the second bulb.
• Replace the curtain panels covering the closet opening with two new ones as we discussed. (neutral off-white in a heavier fabric). Also remove the metal tie backs and let the panels cover the opening.
• Get the shoes in the closet (which you will also be emptying out considerably).
• Remove the small gray table and swing the other night stand around next to the bed.
• Remove almost all of your personal photos and re-arrange those shelves.
• Remove the hanging plant bracket, the small dresser, the desk chair and the lounge chair.
• Take down the cubby hanging on the wall.
• Switch the mirror with the Hawaiian botanical print.
• In the guest bedroom, remove the shade on the window.
• If at all possible, try to hide the litter box, or at least perhaps get a smaller one and keep it immaculately clean.
• Remove the trash can with the kitty litter in it.
• I would also recommend repainting the guest bedroom.
• Remove the chairs and push the desk back against the wall.
• In the bathroom, you must repair the water damage around the tub and on the ceiling.
• Repaint the bathroom ceiling.
• Re-caulk around the tub, and re-grout around the tile.
• Remove your personal items from the sink and vanity.
• Throughout the apartment, replace the bulbs in the recessed lights with the correct bulbs and replace the switch plates with white ones.
• Gary is expecting your call. He will show you some carpet samples that would be appropriate for your bedrooms and within your budget.

Whew!