When you're preparing your home to sell and hosting an open house, you naturally want to show it off to its best advantage. You probably know you'll need to spend time sprucing up your kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, and main living areas, but don't neglect other parts of your home. Buyers will look at them as well and making them as attractive as possible can help separate your home from others on the market.

Our real estate agents recommend that buyers don't overlook the following rooms when they're preparing Excelsior homes for sale for an open house:

• Laundry room
  Clean your laundry room by wiping down your washer and dryer and vacuuming to remove any lint. A coat of paint can also help brighten your walls and even your washer and dryer, and adding a bright, attractive light fixture can help make the room sparkle. You can also add framed pictures or a plant or two to make the room more attractive.
  
  Stow your laundry products in cabinets if you have them, but if you don't, install shelving and put supplies in pretty baskets or bins.
  
  And if your laundry area is in an unfinished basement, separate the area by designating it for laundry items only. Using a small rug or painting a small area of the basement's floor can also help delineate the laundry area.
  
  
• Unfinished basement
  Prospective buyers are likely to look for signs of flooding or moisture issues in your unfinished basement. Make repairs to any cracks, mildew stains, or other issues that may point to problems that have since been fixed.
  
  It's also important to clean your basement by sweeping away spider webs and dirt that has been tracked in. You can also clean the floor and other surfaces with a solution made of water mixed with a small amount of bleach.
  
  Finally, make your basement seem less dark and cluttered by washing your windows and stashing accumulated items in storage containers. A few personalized touches such as pretty liner on your shelves can also go a long way toward making your basement as homey as possible.
  
  
• Mudroom
  Make your mudroom both attractive and functional by adding a bench to sit on while you take your shoes on and off. A padded cushion and a pillow or two can be added for comfort and color.
  
  Open shelving filled with baskets as well as hooks to hold jackets and bins to hold miscellaneous items make the area look neat and show prospective buyers that it offers plenty of storage space.
  
  And since the mudroom gets a lot of use that includes backpacks, umbrellas, and coats being slung around, check for any scuff marks on the walls and baseboards. The area may need a new coat of paint or, at a minimum, some areas may need to be touched up.
  
  
• Foyer
  The foyer is the first area of your home's interior that your prospective buyers will see, so make it organized and welcoming.
  
  Use a cushioned bench and some baskets for storage if you're looking for a casual, comfortable look. If you're looking for more glamour, try a mirrored console if you have room for it. A large area rug can also make the area cozier while adding some color.
  
  For a personalized touch, add some fresh flowers to the top of a small table in the foyer. Bottles of water and a tray of cookies will further help buyers feel welcome.

Contact Homes by Joel in Excelsior, MN to find out more about how to make your home look its best when you're preparing it for sale.