General
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Thoroughly clean whole house (vacuum carpet, mop hardwood floors, clean counter-tops, clean windows)
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Turn on all overhead lights
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Replace all burned out bulbs and be sure that all bulbs are the same color temperature
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Turn all ceiling fans OFF
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Turn all TV's OFF
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Turn all computer screens OFF
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Make all beds
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Remove small floor rugs to reveal flooring
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Place all shoes/jackets in closets
Front Exterior
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Close garage doors
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Remove cars from driveway and front of home
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Clean up landscaping (mow, trim shrubs, clear leaves)
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Remove empty planters
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Remove visible water hoses (if possible)
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Remove toys, sports balls, basketball goals, soccer goals, etc.
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Remove decorative flags that can time stamp an image
Living Room
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Remove stacks of magazines, papers, mail, etc.
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De-clutter fireplace mantel/hearth
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Fluff and arrange furniture pillows
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Remove kid's toys
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Remove unattractive blankets from couch
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Hide remotes
Dining Room
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Clear table, dust and polish the table top
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Use decorative place setting if available
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Feature one center piece such as a bouquet of flowers
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Straighten all chairs and space them evenly
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Remove child seats/booster chairs
Kitchen
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​Clear countertops. No baking supplies, mail, etc.
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Leave out max of 1-2 small appliance (ex. coffee maker)
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Clear outside of refrigerator of magnets, papers, photos, etc.
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Hide garbage cans in pantry or closet
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Remove dishes, dish towels, soaps and sponges from sink
Bedrooms
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Make bed, including decorative pillows/shams if available
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Clear nightstands of all personal items
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Store away phone/tablet charging cables
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Remove all clutter from top of dressers
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Clean under bed, removing items that may show in the photos
Bathrooms
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Clear countertops. No toothbrushes, medications, deodorant, etc.
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Put toilet seats down
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Close closet doors
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Remove shampoo, soap, loofahs, etc. from showers and tubs
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Remove dirty towels - leave out only clean/washed towels with no visible wear
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Remove floor mats
Pets
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​Place food and water bowls in pantry or closet
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Place pet beds/toys in pantry or closet
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Contain pets in hidden crate or outside
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Clear back yard of pet waste/toys​
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We all love our pets, but their presence should be minimized.