If you're thinking about putting your home on the market, remember that if potential buyers can't envision themselves in the space, you'll likely have a tough time selling it. You should assess the interior of your home first and pay special attention to areas that need work, such as repainting the living room or updating the lighting fixtures in the kitchen, before listing it.
Use our checklist to take an inventory of your living space and pinpoint areas for needed improvement:
Attic
Check underside of roof for leaks, stains or dampness.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Look around chimney for condensation or signs of water.
Clean and clear ventilation openings if necessary.
Clean out stored junk.
Walls and ceilings
Check condition of paint and wallpaper.
Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster or wallboard.
Windows and doors
Check for smooth operation.
Replace broken or cracked panes.
Repair glazing.
Check condition of weather stripping and caulking.
Examine paint.
Test doorbell or chimes.
Test burglar alarms.
Wash windows and woodwork.
Floors
Inspect for creaking boards, loose or missing tiles, worn areas.
Check baseboards and moldings.
Test the staircases for loose handrails, posts, treads.
Clean carpets.
Bathrooms
Check tile joints, grouting and caulking.
Remove mildew.
Repair faucets and shower heads that are dripping.
Check the condition of painted or papered walls.
Test operation of toilet.
Kitchen
Wash all appliances.
Clean ventilator or exhaust fan.
Remove accumulation of grease or dust from tiles, walls, cabinets, floors.
Basement
Remove clutter.
Check for signs of dampness, cracked walls or damaged floors.
Inspect structural beams.
Check pipes for leaks.
Electrical system
Check exposed wiring and outlets for signs of wear or damage.
Repair broken switches and outlets.
Label each circuit or fuse.
Plumbing system
Check water pressure when taps in bathroom(s) and kitchen are turned on.
Look for leaks at faucets and sink traps.
Clear slow-running or clogged drains.
Bleed air off radiators if needed, and check for leaking valves.
Heating/cooling systems
Change or clean filters from furnace and air-conditioning equipment.
Have equipment serviced if needed.
Clear and clean area around heating and cooling equipment.
-
What Is a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD)?Tax Breaks A QCD can lower your tax bill while meeting your charitable giving goals in retirement. Here’s how.
-
Embracing Generative AI for Financial SuccessGenerative AI has the potential to reshape how we approach learning about and managing our personal finances.
-
Will lower mortgage rates bring relief to the housing market?The Kiplinger Letter As mortgage rates slowly come down here's what to expect in the housing market over the next year or so.
-
Commercial Real Estate Outlook 2024: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter In 2024, expect hybrid and work-from-home trends, tighter budgets, rising rents and the demand for data centers to continue.
-
Delinquent CRE Loans Are on the Rise: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter Banks are expanding their efforts to restructure CRE loans to avoid losses from the commercial real estate sector.
-
As Mortgage Rates Rise, Renting Is Now Cheaper Than Buying for Many: The Kiplinger Letter
The Kiplinger Letter A jump in mortgage rates has caused housing affordability to slump and priced many first-time home buyers out of the market.
-
Rental Market Will Slow Through 2023: The Kiplinger LetterThe Kiplinger Letter Expected growth in the rental market is likely to remain slow for the rest of the year amid a slow housing market and cooling economy.
-
How to Set the Price to Sell Your Homereal estate If you're selling your home, setting the right price is crucial. Don't overprice or you'll scare away prospective buyers.
-
WFH Impact on Commercial Real Estate Market: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts Commercial real estate continues to struggle. Office vacancies hit 18.9% in the second quarter of 2023.
-
Greenland, U.S. Plans to Boost Tourist Economy: Kiplinger Economic ForecastsEconomic Forecasts A U.S. congressional effort could see some Canadian visitors get longer stays, meanwhile, Greenland bids to be the next vacation hotspot.
