Getting Your Home Ready To Sell

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Ok, so you've made the decision to sell your home. How exciting! Spring is a time when the real estate market in Portland tends to become incredibly active. When you're getting your home ready to sell there are many things to pay attention to and it can get very overwhelming for the average homeowner. So to make things simple, we here at PDX Urban decided to make things simple and wrote out a simple checklist you can use when preparing your home for a listing. 

The items on this checklist should be given some careful thought before you decide to list your home and even before you have your Realtor arrange for a photographer to take pictures. This checklist also serves as a great reminder of the items you are going to want to pay attention to in order to keep your home looking fresh and enticing to any prospective buyers who may want to make your home their own. 

If you have questions about how to best prepare your home for our photoshoot and the many showings that will follow, please don't hesitate to contact us. Also, don't hesitate to sign up for Our Newsletter for more helpful tips! 

EXTERIOR

  1. Garbage cans pulled out of view.
  2. Cars out of driveway as often as possible.
  3. Toys picked up.
  4. Patios cleared of clutter.
  5. Any general clutter around yard removed.

ENTRYWAY

  1. Shoes/jackets removed.
  2. General clutter removed.

LIVING ROOM

  1. Blankets folded neatly.
  2. Pillows arranged neatly.
  3. Floors swept.
  4. Carpets vacuumed.
  5. General clutter removed. (The more you can remove the better!!)
  6. Pet beds removed.

KITCHEN

  1. Counters cleared. A few items like a microwave or a coffee maker are ok, but all other items should be stores away. 
  2. Thoroughly wipe down all appliances to remove fingerprints, smudges, and general cooking stains. 
  3. Remove pet food/water dishes, at least for the photoshoot. 
  4. Dining room tables clear. If you want to leave a small flower arrangements that can have a nice warm feeling, but otherwise the table should be clear of all items. 
  5. Floors swept. 

BATHROOMS

  1. Toilet seats down. 
  2. Counters cleared.
  3. Bathtub cleaned and at least for the photoshoot, remove all items like shampoo, razors, and soap. 
  4. The less that is visible and the more you can stow away in cabinets or under the sink the better. 

BEDROOMS

  1. All beds made. Be sure to make them as neatly as possible!
  2. Clothes out of sight.
  3. Remove clutter from the floor and around the room. If you can remove items from the top of your dressers, night stands, or bedside tables that is ideal.
  4. If you have a walk in closet, make sure everything is hanging neatly. If possible, cluster clothing of similar colors together. 
  5. Remove or hide away personal items such as family photos, jewelry, etc. 
  6. Pet beds removed. 

GENERAL/MISC.

  1. Have all the lights and lamps on prior to the photographer arriving in your home and leave them on when you home is available to be shown. 
  2. Turn off your ceiling fans, but leave the lights on. 
  3. Make sure your pets are secured, especially if they are indoor only. This is both for your pet's safety and the safety of people coming to view the home.  
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Alexis Kennedy

My name is Alexis Kennedy, welcome to my site! I have a passion for making images wherever and whenever I can. I seek to capture humanity and the world around me with a focus on the figure. Film, digital, pinhole, and instant photography are all fair game for me.


I grew up in the California Bay Area and started taking photography seriously in High School. I was one of the lucky few who had a chance to go to a high school with a working darkroom and a teacher who understood that making images was an art form – care and patience was a necessity in the image making process from start to finish.


Later in life I attended the University of California in Santa Cruz where I received a Bachelors Degree in the History of Art and Visual Culture. After having my fill of the California sunshine I packed up my life and moved to the Pacific Northwest. I quickly found the overcast skies, lush forests, cooler temperatures, and creative communities to be a perfect match for my work.


Over the years I have exhibited my photographs in several galleries and art shows including the Seattle Erotic Arts Festival and Cascade AIDS Project. I’ve published a few books and taught workshops up and down the west coast of the United States. Through this site I’m hoping to share my work and perhaps inspire others along the way.