Ceiling fans need to be in good working order, naturally, and any lights on them inspected and replaced as necessary. Even if it is your custom to do so, don't leave the ceiling fans set to high speed – it's noisy. Make sure the fan blades are nice and clean.

Door molding (and sometimes on windows) is usually quite dirty on the top rail. Clean it as necessary. Checking this is a lot like kicking tires on a used car lot – people just do it. So make sure your top moldings are clean and dust free.

Walls and ceilings should be checked for holes, cracks, and stains. Washing, filling, and spot-painting should be considered before a complete repainting is started. If you do have to repaint an entire room, be sure to fully air it out for several days (if possible) and add a fragrance to more rapidly dissipate the fresh paint odor. Be sure to carefully check the entire ceiling for old holes used for hanging baskets, holiday decorations, etc. Attend to existing holes by filling and touch-up painting. Heating and air conditioning vents (registers), both the intake and output, get quite dirty. Vacuum them using the brush attachment, and then wipe them down. Touch-up paint these as necessary using appropriate paint and color.

Windows and window coverings should be checked closely, as many of them are rarely ever 'used.' Check to make sure all the windows open and close properly and fully – lubricate as necessary to achieve good motion and low noise. (petroleum jelly, used very sparingly, makes an excellent lubricant for aluminum.) Check all locking and holding mechanisms. Adjust and lubricate as necessary. Clean the glass, inside and outside. (A decent investment might be a small, $3.00 squeegee and some plain white vinegar. Mix water to vinegar at a ratio of about 10:1. Wet a sponge with the cleaning solution and scrub the glass. Now simply squeegee it off, and finish with a 'polish' using a paper towel. It's a very fast and inexpensive way to clean LOTS of glass!) Whatever the window covering, make sure it is not torn, or bent, or broken, and that it opens and closes properly. Clean, adjust, and repair as necessary. Determine how the room shows best, with respect to the window coverings, that is. Should they be open or closed – or partially open? Will it be different at different times of day?

Floors come in so many ways that it's best just to say make sure they are clean, safe, and uncluttered. Shampoo carpets, wax floors, paint floors, seal floors – do whatever is required for your particular flooring to make it look its very best. Don't leave objects on the floors, such as toys or other potential hazards. Be sure the floors are dry – especially in garages and basements.

Specialty Rooms Checklist:

Kitchens are one of the most seriously inspected and evaluated rooms of the house. Prospective buyers will check it out thoroughly, so make sure it's tip-top! Make sure that your garbage disposer is working properly. A piece of citrus fruit rind will make it smell great. Exhaust fans and lights over stoves should be in good working order, and clean. The grease filter in these often requires a good soaking. They will clean up very nicely if run through the dishwasher. Make sure the lights all work, and the fan works on all of its speeds. Clean the oven. Make sure that even the slowest of leaks under the sink are attended to, and that any remaining water stains are removed. Under kitchen sinks are often catch-alls, if yours is that way, it's time to tidy it up. Leaving the cabinet doors open is a good way to dry out underneath sinks, which often is moist, and sometimes doesn't smell as fresh as is desirable. If you are selling your appliances with the house, make sure they are clean, and in good working order including ice makers, defrosters, timers, etc. Put a little extra time into making sure that all the electrical outlets and switches work properly. Don't forget lights under counters, refrigerator lights, hidden receptacles, and interior oven lights. An inexpensive package of baking soda will keep the inside of the freezer and refrigerator smelling sweet for months. Lastly, to make sure the kitchen smells delightful for visitors, you can purchase some of the potpourri that is put into water, and allowed to simmer on the stove. This is very aromatic, and will permeate the entire house. The preferred fragrance for this task is vanilla.

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