Amy Bunyard is a Realtor associate with Keller Williams Realty Professionals working in Cypress.

Every week, we ask a real estate professional for their Short List, a collection of tips and recommendations on an essential topic in real estate. This week, we talked with Amy Bunyard, a Realtor associate with Keller Williams Realty Professionals. 

5. De-clutter

• Pack up unnecessary items – clients will have to do it when you move, anyway.
• Have a garage sale – make sure clients follow any Homeowners’ Association rules regarding garage sales.
• Donate old clothing and shoes – if it has not been worn in a certain amount of time, usually one (1) year, then maybe it is time to let it go to someone that could use it.
• Donate household items and furniture – if you have not used it in a while or no longer use it, donate it.
• There is someone out there that needs or could use your old clothing, shoes, household items, and/or furniture.

4. Fix minor repairs 

• Leaky faucets
• Toilets that do not flush properly or leak
• Fix/replace caulking
• Tighten loose knobs and handles – doors and cabinets
• Change out any light bulbs that need to be replaced

3. De-personalize 

• Remove excessive trinkets, photographs, etc.
• If your clients have bold paint colors or unusual designs (murals, etc.), think about painting with a more neutral color – shades of beige/cream or gray are usually good choices for wall colors.
• If possible, remove any outdated/old wallpaper and paint.
• You want potential buyers to be able to visualize themselves and their family in your client’s home.

2. Exterior

• Pressure wash siding, driveway(s), patio(s), fence(s), etc.
• Fresh coat of paint on the house and doors, including garage doors
• Clean out flowerbeds and re-mulch
• Keep yard maintained – mowing, weed eating and edging
• Trim shrubs and trees
• Make sure any pet “waste” is disposed of properly – not left in the grass to smell or for someone to step in.

1. Interior

• Fresh coat of paint on the walls throughout the home
• Have the floors professionally cleaned – carpets/tile and grout
• Have a cleaning service come in and do some “spring cleaning;” if your clients can afford to continue the service, at least once a month, do it…this will take some pressure off of them and their family and will keep the home ready to be shown at any given time.
• Have your client enlist all of their family members to keep the home in tip-top shape
  • Children can assist by keeping their toys/belongings and dirty laundry picked up, their beds made, doing the dishes, taking care of the family pets and assisting with gathering/taking out the garbage.
  • Teenagers can assist with vacuuming, dusting, laundry chores and yard work.
  • Make a list and assign each person a responsibility for each day of the week.
• Hire a home staging company to assist in making your client’s home look like a model home every time it is shown.

If you take the time and do some of these items, it will pay off in the long-run…your client’s home will become someone else’s “dream home.” Then, you will be able to help your client move on to the next chapter of their life.

Amy Bunyard is an established Houston-area Realtor associate who’s excited to continue building her already storied career with her new brokerage Keller Williams, who she joined with in May 2014.