Preparing Your Home To Sell

In preparing your home to sell, ask yourself over and over if your house looks like someone else's dream home. Homes that are in move-in condition tend to be inviting to buyers. There is no need to spend a great deal of money remodeling your home before selling. However, a few key improvements to ensure your home shows well in relation to your competitors may result in a quicker home sale, and a potentially higher price. Prospective buyers are drawn to homes they can visualize themselves living in. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when getting ready to sell:

Exterior / Curb Appeal -Appearance is everything

Remember the 60-second rule: that's all the time you have to create a good first impression. Take this list into consideration when looking at the outside of your home.

• Is the yard well maintained? Lawns mowed, hedges trimmed?
• Are garbage and debris stored out of sight?
• Are lawn mowers and hoses properly stored?
• Is the garage door closed?
• Does the house need painting- the window casings, shutters, siding or doors?
• Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways?
• Does the driveway need resurfacing?
• Are the gutters, chimney and walls in good condition?

Don't Forget the Rear View

Buyers doing a drive by will try their best to see your back yard. If it's visible from another street or from someone's driveway, include it in your curb appeal efforts.

Evening Curb Appeal

Do your curb appeal exercise again at dusk, because it isn't unusual for potential buyers to drive by houses in the evening.

One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting:

• String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping elements.
• Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch.
• Make sure lighting that's visible through front doors and windows enhances the home's appearance.

Interior

Clean, Clean, Clean

Step back for a moment and look at your home as if you were seeing it for the first time. Every room should be spotlessly clean, dusted, and uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash the walls, windows, and light fixtures. Tighten loose stair railing and clean all woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this magnitude is better left to a professional ask your real estate agent to recommend a cleaning service.

Your windows, floors and bathroom tiles should sparkle. Make sure you have clean heating and air conditioning filters. Keep your home neat, clean and picked-up at all times. It may not seem fair, but a peek in the oven may be the hallmark by which a buyer judges how well you have kept up your home. Consider how your home smells. You may be used to the smell of a pet or cigarettes, but such odors can be a strong turn-off to potential buyers. Insure that your storage areas are tidy, and remove materials that may be to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor.

Lighting

Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Add lamps and lighting if the house is dark. Open all curtains, and replace them if they are getting old. Fill the house with a pleasant aroma, such as berries in the summer or cinnamon in the winter.

Flooring and Paint

Replace the carpet if it's worn. It cost money, but you may find that you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch cracks and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral colors, such as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.

Furniture and decor

Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Too much furniture and too many knick-knacks make rooms look cluttered and small. One or two decorative items per surface are plenty, so pack the rest away. Family photos and personal items should be packed away if possible. These items serve as a reminder to a potential buyer that this is not their home.

Kitchen and Baths

These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters, and clean all appliances and fixtures. Scrub the floors and walls. Re-caulk tubs and showers. Clean these rooms thoroughly, and be sure they smell fresh.

Closets

Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves and straighten shoes. Be sure that sliding doors operate smoothly and knobs on drawers are secure.

Utility Room

Dust and wash the washer, dryer, and water heater.

Light and Bright

Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper with neutral paint and repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds, and replace broken windows and window seals. Always maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are away for an extended period of time.