How to prepare your house for sale.

A tiny handprint on a wall or the slightest door squeak can be quite distracting to some potential buyer. Use this handy checklist to assess what needs to be cleaned, repaired or changed before opening your home to potential buyers.

Kitchen and bathrooms

• Clean all surfaces, including floors.
• Organize countertops.
• Ensure all sinks and faucets work properly.

Other rooms

• Vacuum and dust all areas thoroughly.
• Collect and remove all clutter, including excess furniture.
• Neatly store books, toys and clothes in closets and on shelves.
• Clean all mirrors.
• Open drapes and pull up blinds on windows.

Floor coverings

• Remove all dirt and stains.
• Repair and damaged areas.
• If there is hardwood under old carpeting, restore the hardwood –a much-desired feature in homes today.

Walls, ceilings, baseboards

• Clean any fingerprints or stains.
• Repair any holes, cracks, chipped paint, ripped wallpaper, water damage.
• If necessary, repaint in neutral or complimentary colors.

Doors

• Fix squeaks and other problems.
• Ensure the handles are secured and work properly.
• Clean any stains.

Windows

• Clean and repair any cracks.
• Ensure they open easily.

Lighting

• Check to see there is sufficient light.
• Attend to any broken switches, exposed wiring.

Pet areas

• These should be clean, organized and odor free

Outside the home

• Ensure all gates open easily.
• Clean all exterior surfaces, including decks, pools, walkways and driveways and make them tidy.
• Depending on the time of year, lawns should be mowed, walkways and driveways clear of leaves, trees pruned, garden weeded, hedges trimmed.