Preparing Your Home for Sale

Here are a few great tips on creating an atmosphere that will charm buyers and make them want to buy your home. Remember that you’ll never get a second chance to make a first impression, and first impressions are what count! Follow these simple tips and create the competitive edge that may help you sell your home more quickly.

Drive-Up Appeal

1. Trim trees and shrubs, clean out flower beds, and invest in a few flats of seasonal flowers. Paint the front door, make sure that the doorbell is working properly, wash the mailbox, keep the porch swept, and get an attractive mat for people to wipe their feet.

Absolute Basics

1. Start by airing out the home. Most people are turned off by even the slightest odor. Odors must be eliminated, especially those caused by dogs and cats, soiled diapers, and/or cigarettes.
2. Wash all the windows, inside and out.
3. If it has been more than a year since the carpets have been cleaned, now is the time to have that done. Bare floors should also be waxed or polished.
4. Put bright light bulbs in every socket made for a bulb. Buyers like bright and cheery rooms.
5. Clean out closets, cabinets, and drawers. Closets should look like they have enough room to hold additional items. Get everything off the floor and don’t have shelves piled full to the ceiling.
6. Make sure that rooms are not overcrowded with furniture. Select the pieces that look best and store the rest.
7. Keep the kitchen sparkling clean. Make sure that all appliances are clean at all times. Straighten cupboards that appear cluttered and keep floors gleaming.
8. Bath tubs, showers, and sinks should be freshly caulked. The grout should be clean and in good condition. There should be no leaks in the faucet or pipes.

A Few More Suggestions

1. If you have limited counter space in the kitchen, keep unnecessary items put away.
2. Keep children’s toys out of the front yard, off sidewalks, and away from the front porch.
3. Clean the ashes out of the fireplace.
4. If you have a pool, it needs to be sparkling clean and free of leaves.

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