• Clean off all counter tops. Small appliances such as coffee pot, toaster oven, and mixer should be out of sight. This is inconvenient to you living there but will pay off. Don’t just stuff them under the sink. Make room in a cabinet. Only have on counters one or two decorative items such as: Fresh flowers; wine rack; green plant in attractive vase or basket; pitcher of lemonade and couple of glasses; tray with cloth napkin, wine bottle and a couple of glasses; large bowl of fresh fruit; cake stand with pastries on it; stack of cookbooks, etc.
• Clean finger prints from cabinets. Use furniture repair stick or stain to cover any scratches or nicks. Repair squeaks with Silicone Lubricant Spray, or something similar. Do not use WD40, as it stains.
• Tighten loose knobs on Cabinets and drawers and consider replacing them if outdated looking. New knobs are expensive, but can really update a kitchen. Silver and black are in, gold is not.
• Clean out all cabinets. Box up and put away all items that you can do without temporarily such as duplicate mixing bowls and extra pots or pans. Inside of the cabinets should reflect there is lots of room in kitchen for storage. Organize all glasses together on a shelf in a cabinet and stack same size dishes together on a shelf (I know, I know, but you would be surprised).
• Replace flooring if old and worn out with a neutral tile or linoleum. There are some great looking linoleum floors for kitchens that look just like tile. Polish a wood floor with non skid polish.
• Make the eating area look roomy by removing any leaves in table. Put away any excess of chairs. Make sure any chair cushions are modern looking, clean and color appropriate.
• Remove any worn out or not matching rugs. Replace with new or leave floor bare.
• What about that old chandelier? Ask your realtors opinion. Can you spray paint it? Clean it? Or simply replace it with an attractive but inexpensive one? Make sure all the lights work in it, and there are no cobwebs. ( I know, I know, but you would be surprised.)
• Set the table with placemats or table cloth, dishes, napkins, and flower arrangement.
• Walls should be neutral color, tan or soft green, fresh paint.
• Repair any broken tiles.
• Clean stove, refrigerator, dishwasher inside and out. Yes, people will look and you want to let them know they are being well maintained.
• A new faucet will help sell this house, if needed.
• Kitchen should be bright! Open blinds, clean windows and put bright bulbs in fixtures.
• Hide the stacks of mail somewhere.

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