Before-market checklist

[Juan Diaz]

Before you go onto the market, you’ve got to do that final walk-through. Here's what I have for mine, what do you have for yours?

• Paint. Does everything look good? Is there any place where paint got someplace that it wasn’t supposed to go?
• Outlets and light switches: is everything screwed in tightly? Do all of the lights and outlets work?
• Sinks: test the sink and toilet to make sure water is running well into each. Make sure that there are no drips.
• Windows: Check to see that they are properly sealed, and open and close smoothly.
• Doors: make sure that all doors open and close smoothly, without resistance.
• Flooring: make sure that all flooring is 100% flat, and that there are no carpet nails exposed. Make sure that all edging is done, and that all transitions between rooms and floor types look good.
• Baseboards – make sure that the baseboards look good and are not scuffed or otherwise dirty.
• Cupboards and drawers: make sure that they open and close smoothly, and that all handles and pulls look good.
• Tiling: check the tiling and grouting to make sure that it looks neat and even, and that excess grout did not spill over onto the tiles.
• Appliances – briefly check your appliances to make sure that they’re in good working order.
• Cleanliness: Have the house deep-cleaned, so that it practically sparkles when you look at it. The cleaner the house, the higher the purchase price.
• Yard: Check the landscaping. Are there any construction tools or materials lying around? Make sure that they are taken off the property. Also check the landscaping for any edge-trimming or mowing that needs done.
• Exterior: Make sure that the paint is uniform, that there are no spots. Check the guttering and roof to ensure that they look good.