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Home Seller Preparation Checklist

This page provides a check list for sellers in preparation for the sale of their home. You can print this page and make use of the check boxes that we've put in place for you.

Make sure the home is clean, comfortable, and easily accessible for your buyer.
House Exterior Kitchen
Landscaping Walls/Ceiling
Roofs&Chimneys Floors
Garage Windows
House Interior Interior Doors
Attic Stairs
Fireplaces Utilities
Laundry Room Electrical
Bathrooms Environmental Hazards

Outdoors

House Exterior
Does it need a paint job?  
Is there wood rot on: - garage door trim
- corner boards
- fascia
- deck supports
Is vinyl siding loose or damaged?  
Check windows for: - breaks, cracks
- glazing on single-panes
- condition of storm units
- broken seal or fogging thermopane
- condition of sills
- condition of casings
Check steps for:

- loose treads
- rotted wood
- deteriorated cement
- secure railings
Check doors for: - finish
- weather stripping
- rotted areas
Check sliders for: - easy operation
- clarity
- good screen
Check electrical for: - working GFI outlets
- entry wire in good contition

Landscaping
Are the shrubs away from the house and well trimmed?  
Are tree limbs overhanging?  
Is there any growth on the house (vines, etc.)?  
Does the driveway have: - Cracks
- Enough parking
Is the fencing in good condition?

 
Is the ground graded away from the house?  
Check sliders for: Is there any evidence of pests?  
Check electrical for: - working GFI outlets
- entry wire in good contition
Are the walkways safe and aesthetically pleasing?  

Roofs and Chimneys
Check asphalt shingles: - Brittle
- Cracked
- Curled
- Loss of mineral surface
- Lifted or missing shingles
Check wood shingles: - Warped
- Moss-covered
- Cracked
Check tile roof: - Cracks
- Missing tiles
- Broken tiles
Check chimney: - Cracks
- Secure
- Surface deteriorated
- Crown condition

Garage
Fire protection: - Common walls – 5/8” dry wall with tape
- Fire-rated door
- Floor below home floor
Automatic garage door opener: - Pressure sensor operative
- Dedicated outlet
Manually operated: - Smooth operation
- Springs lubricated
Check electrical for:
 - Hanging wires
- Open splices
- Open junction boxes
Make sure plumbing is adequately heated  
Inspect floor for spills and cracks  
Inspect structure for wood rot.  
Remove stored cars from garage.  

Indoors

House interior:
Basement/Crawl space
Condition of access area: - Weather and pest-proof
- Easy to open/close
Ventilation: - Vent screens/windows
- Moisture
Are the joists soft or rotten?  
Is the insulation fallen or loose?  
Is the paper side facing the living area?  
Is the foundation solid?  
Are the floors clean?  
Is there evidence of pests or vermin?  
Is it heated to prevent freezing pipes?  
Is the water running?  
Wiring: - Open splices
- Loose wires
- BX cable condition
Are the supports rusted, rotted, or fallen?  
Is the ductwork damaged, rusty, or disconnected?  
Is the lighting easily accessible?  

Attic
Is it easily accessible and clutter-free?  
Are the floorboards secured?  
Are the roof vents clear?  
Is the lighting easily accessible?  
Is the roof sheathing dry or moldy?  
Wiring: - open splices
- open junction boxes
- Frayed wires
Are the rafters cracked or broken?  
Are there leaks in the chimney or roof?  

Fireplaces
Is the chimney clean?  
Are the dampers rusty or loose?  
Are the roof vents clear?  
Is the heath secure?  
Are there any broken bricks or loose grout?  
Do the doors work?  
Don’t use the fireplace just before or during the inspection.  

Laundry Room

Is the vent pipe clear, and connected to the exterior?  
Are the service connections secured?  
Washer plumbing: - Supply valves leak-free
- Corrosion-free
- Discharge pipe intact
- Is there a laundry sink drain
Is the lighting easily accessible?  
Don’t do laundry just before or during inspection.  

Bathrooms
Floor: - Cracked tiles
- Loose grout
- Peeling vinyl
- Caulk around tub in good condition
Vanity: - Leaks
- Corrosion
- Sink clean
- Counter clean
Is the GFI outlet working?  
Toilet: - Stained
- Cracked
- Flush easily
Venting:

- Does the window work
- Is there a fan connected to the exterior
Tub/shower area: - loose tiles
- Wall/tub well caulked
- Is it clean
- Do the faucets leak
- Are the shower door tracks clean

Kitchen
Are the cabinets and drawers clean and operational?  
Are the counters clear?  
Does the stove work?  
Does the ventilation work?  
Does the dishwasher open and drain properly?

 

Walls/Ceiling
Are there any stains, cracks, or faded paint/plaster?  

Floors
Is the carpet clean?  
Have wood floors been buffed or refinished?  
Do tile floors have any cracks or loose grout?  

Windows
Do they open/close easily?  
Is the hardware intact?  
Is the glass clean?  
Are the casement handles intact?  
Is there fogging on the Thermopane?  
Are the screens present and in good condition?  

Interior Doors

Does the door close evenly?  
Is there any damage?  
Is the hardware intact?

 

Stairs
Are the railings secured?
  
Are the stair treads safe?  

PHOTO

Utilities

Heating
Let the buyer know whether it’s oil, gas, or electric.  
Show how the heat is delivered: ductwork, baseboard, or radiant.  
Let the buyer know the age of the unit.  
Operation of system: - Are the shut-off switches on
- Are there service tags on the unit
- Make sure there’s no debris near the unit
- Was it serviced in the past 12 months
- Change filters, check for leaks, and/or clean the flue pipe
Make sure the baseboards are in good condition, and there’s asbestos on the heating pipes.  
Are there any loose valves?  

Plumbing
Is kitchen faucet leaky? Check under cabinet for evidence of leakage.  
Are the bath faucets leaky? Check under cabinet for evidence of leakage.  
Is the tub faucet leaky?  
Does the shower diverter work?  
Is there a drain plug?  
Toilets: - Does it run
- Is the flush weak
- Is there base leakage
- Is the seat intact
Water heater: - Leakage
- Rust
- Relief valve 6-10” above ground
- Adequate hot water
- Flue pipe in good condition
- Storage away from unit
- Documents in place
Well: - Lid secured?
- Rodent-proof opening?
- Hazardous materials kept away?

Electrical
Load center: - Openings visible from outside?
- Cover missing?
- Is it a fuse or breaker style?
Is the main entry wire in good condition?  
Washer plumbing: - Supply valves leak-free
- Corrosion-free
- Discharge pipe intact
- Is there a laundry sink drain
Are there GFI outlets in the bathrooms, kitchen, exterior, and pool/hot tub areas?
Have any potential wiring defects checked by an electrician.  
Are there working smoke detectors present?  

Environmental hazards
Radon in air/water?  
Asbestos in air?  
Mold/mildew?  
Lead in water/paint?  
Air quality?  
Water quality?  
Soil contamination?  

We at Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates realize that you are in the information gathering stage of your purchase and we respect your privacy.  Should you have any questions, please feel free to email us at info@valeriefitzgerald.com or call us directly at 310-285-7515.  If you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell a home, please note that we can provide detailed information and access to

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You can count on the services of Valerie Fitzgerald and Associates to provide you with information you can trust.

 
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