Preparing Your Home For Sale
August 8th, 2006
Entice buyers with a house that’s dressed for success.
Moe the lawn, polish the hardware, and make everything attractive and tidy.
The way you present your property to prospective buyers can make all the difference between success and failure. If prospective buyers don’t find your house appealing, they won’t be interested in seeing what’s inside. Cosmetic changes can influence how quickly your home sells and at what price.
Appearance counts, you will never have a second chance to make a first impression. Following this list makes sure that your first impression is a great one.
Curb Appeal:
- Keep lawn mowed and shrubbery neatly trimmed
- Gardening equipment and tools should be put away or neatly stored, and hoses neatly coiled.
- Repair gates, fences and sidewalks
- Buyers are going to be looking closely at your front door, so make sure it is clean, freshly painted and well oiled so it doesn’t squeak
- Front walkway should be as attractive as possible – always well swept, and some seasonal or colorful flowers add a lot to zip up the look of the approach
- Remove or replace dead or dying plants; add color with blooming flowers
- Clear yard of all debris
- Remove newspapers, bikes and toys
- Park cars in garage and extra cars should be parked away from the property Garage:
- Keep the floors clean and swept
- Store or neatly arrange all items
Inside:
- Open drapes and turn on lights for a bright and airy feel – buyers love a home that is bright, clean and fresh
- Place fresh flowers in the main rooms
- Make beds and put all clothes away
- Turn off television
- Put away toys
- Keep temperature comfortable
- Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free
- Secure jewelry, cash, prescription medication and other valuables
- Your home should smell great; try potpourri, febreze or freshly baked cookies
- Kitchen and baths should shine
- Keep personal photographs and items on display to a minimum.
Bathrooms:
- Polish the floors, mirrors, counters and fixtures
- Repair grout and caulking
- Repair running toilet or faulty plumbing; these items will show up in a buyer’s inspection and with a lot of minor items, generally someone will get the impression that there will be a lot of bigger things and the home was not well cared for.
- Personal hygiene items should be put away
Kitchens:
- Clean appliances, cabinetry and floors
- Clean and clear countertops, make sure all dishes are put away
- Repair faucets and appliances
Closets:
- Straighten closets, buyers do look in them to see size and shelves
- Hang clothes neatly; store shoes in boxes
- Eliminate clutter
- Replace burned out light bulbs
Overall:
- Wash windows, they should be so clean that they sparkle
- Clean or replace carpets
- Paint rooms in a neutral color
Important Reminders:
- Potential buyers usually feel more comfortable if the owners are not present
- If people unaccompanied by an agent request to see your property, please refer them to me so that I may pre-qualify them
- Leave a number where you can be reached if you are leaving town
Other Free Reports:
Make your Home Look Its Very Best - Article for additional inexpensive ways to put a shine on your home and enhance its over-all desirability.
Comments are closed.