21 Helpful Tips Before Putting Your Home On the Market
1. Cleaning up the yard and trim hedges. Although buyers will become aware that your home is for sale through various means, having a neat and well-kept yard is essential in making that all-important first impression. Ensure the children’s toys are put away neatly when not in use. If you have a dog, make sure that waste us cleaned up daily. If necessary, have your lawn professionally aerated and treated for weeds. Making your yard as park-like as possible will elevate interest in your home.
2. Paint window and door trim, and your foundation if exposed. It’s no secret that cracked and peeling paint gives the impression that maintenance is required. It more importantly leads to the question “what other maintenance is going unchecked”? People know that houses do require maintenance and occasional repairs, but in today’s market people are looking for homes that require no immediate attention.
3. Reseal a paved driveway. In most cases this will require a sunny Saturday, a five dollar roller and about five gallons of sealer. While the cost is small, this could make the difference in having your home on the market for many months. Some people when selling their homes are fed up with the maintenance; this ultimately leads to taking longer to sell and a lower selling price.
4. Replace rotting deck boards. Decks and fences periodically require a few boards to be replaced. You have probably been putting it off, trying to get a couple more years out of them. Now is the time to get out there and get them replaced. Remember to use galvanized nails to prevent rust stains. Take a look at the rest of the deck and fence. Do they require another coat of stain? Keep in mind buyers will be on the look out for something to use to keep the price down.
5. Plant flowers. This gives your home “curb appeal”. That means when people are out and about and they see the “for sale” sign in the yard they see a home that is warm and inviting. This translates directly into more inquiries and more showings and ultimately to a faster sale.
NOTE
When selecting flowers, go for annuals (for cost reasons) they have a long flowering period.
6. Do all the obvious repairs and maintenance. Buying a home is an expensive undertaking; therefore people will be looking for a house that requires no immediate repairs. When your home does sell it will probably be conditional on a building inspection. There is an increasing trend for buyers to use these reports to insist the seller either makes the necessary repairs or to reduce the price in light of the repairs needed.
NOTE
Common areas of concern are rain gutters, chimney cracks, loose or missing shingles and broken windows.
7. Tidy garage and garden shed. Ideally a two-car garage fits two cars comfortably. Cluttered garages and sheds send a clear message “THERE IS NOTENOUGH STORAGE SPACE”. Although buyers seldom say that, time and time again we see them buy a smaller place that appears larger.
8. Clean clean clean. Start at one end of the house and make a list of everything that needs cleaning. Enlist the help of the entire family. Have carpets professionally cleaned to save time and back aches. Spotless homes sell faster and for more money.
NOTE
Use old newspaper and polish windows for that extra touch.
9. Repaint if necessary. Use natural tones throughout your home. Although no ones favorite color is beige, no one really dislikes it. The key is that almost all furniture will blend in a room that is natural.
10. Refinish hardwood and replace or re-stretch carpets. Worn flooring is one of the largest deterrents for buyers. While this may seem like a costly and time consuming undertaking, the time will be saved in the marketing days and the return will be in the selling price.
11. Have your home ready to show. When an appointment is to be made to show the property it will frequently be within two hours. This should give you enough time to put all the finishing touches before the showing.
12. Find storage space for kitchen appliances. Making your kitchen appear more spacious can be an easy as clearing off all countertops. Remember kitchens and bathrooms are the two most closely scrutinized rooms in a house being sold.
13. Brighten your home. Where safety permits change all light bulbs with the next higher wattage. What this does is creates the feeling that your home is much brighter.
NOTE
Have every light in the house on for every showing even if it’s the daytime.
14. Control pet and cigarette odor. Litter boxes should be cleaned daily. Ensure the dog’s bed is aired out regularly. When the home is to be shown, ensure the dog’s food dish is put away and the water dish has clean water. If you or someone in your home is a smoker make sure the house is aired out before the showing.
15. Ensure the house has a fresh smell. Air the house regularly after meals and after smoking. Remember some people have asthma and allergies so if you bare using air fresheners use them sparingly.
16. Oil all hinges, including cupboard doors. A quick shot of oil will remove all squeaks and creaks that your doors have. Nothing says I’m worn out like creaking hinges.
17. Put your house in ship shape. Make a list of all minor repairs your home needs, like dripping faucets, cracked or missing trim, plug ins that won’t work or cracked or missing face plates from switches. Since the buyer probably won’t be getting a warranty of any kind in the house they’ll want to make sure everything works.
18. Have chimney, woodstove and or fireplace cleaned. Not only is this a safety concern, but buyers will want to ensure that the wood burning devices are properly maintained.
19. Have furnace serviced and have the documentation available. Buyers will want to know the approximate heating costs and how well serviced the furnace is.
20. Make more closet space. This is easily accomplished by packing away seasonal items. Since you are selling your home and will be moving, get a head start on packing. More closet space tells buyers there will be enough storage space.
21. Now that the home is ready for market have a friend or relative do a walk through and point out any areas of concern. If anything comes up no matter how small – fix it!
Following these easy tips will save you untold frustration when selling your home and will make this a favorable event in your life, plus it will net you more money from the sale.
Call Me Sheila at 902-830-4165 for all your Real Estate Needs
Sheila Cashin
Real Estate Professional
Exit Realty Metro
902-830-4165 Cell
902-462-8827 Fax
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