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Tips For Improving Your Home's INTERIOR: When we get ready to place your home on the market, we'll go through the property and discuss specific things that will help your property show to its best advantage. Until then here are a few general suggestions: Living Areas
Be sure drapes and carpets are clean. Paint rooms or walls that need it. Clean windows inside and out. Replace light bulbs as needed and make sure all electrical systems work. Clear unnecessary items from furniture and keep decorative objects at a minimum. Rearrange or remove some of the furniture if a room seems crowded. Clearing away excess furniture and clutter will make your rooms appear larger. Kitchen Areas
Replace counter or wall tile if damaged and re-grout if necessary. Clean the oven and wax the floor. Be sure sinks and appliances are clean and shiny. Clear unnecessary objects off kitchen counter tops and remove notes, pictures and messages from the front of the refrigerator. If the kitchen is relatively empty, prospective buyers can imagine moving their things in. Baths
Check caulking around tubs and showers. Repair leaking faucets, and replace tile and/or grout if needed. Replace or clean shower curtain and bathroom rugs. Clear unnecessary items from counter tops, tubs and commode tops. Coordinating towels are a nice aesthetic touch. Closets
Be sure lights work and clothes are neatly hung. Shoes and other loose items should be stored in boxes and arranged neatly on shelves. Garage
Remove all unnecessary items. Clean the floor and tidy the shelves. Spruce Up Your Home's EXTERIOR:
"Curb Appeal" is an important factor in getting a timely sale and a satisfactory price. Take a critical look at the exterior of your home as though you were a prospective buyer seeing it for the first time. The following steps can help you make sure that your home makes a good impression: - Keep your lawn freshly cut, fertilized and adequately watered. Weed all planted areas. Spring, summer or fall flowers can give your yard an extra touch of color.
- Inspect shrubs, hedges and trees. Prune and shape those that need it, and remove any dead plants. Keep plants from blocking windows, doors and sidewalks.
- Repair any cracked or broken windows and replace old or torn screen doors. Be sure faucets and sprinkler systems are in good working order.
- Keep driveway, steps and sidewalks clear of debris and objects. Move garbage cans, stacked building materials, etc. into the garage and out of sights.
- Check the exterior paint, especially the front door and trim. These items will be among the first a prospective buyer notices. Apply fresh paint as needed and replace damaged bricks or siding.
- Clear patios or decks of general clutter including small planters and flower pots, gardening tools, pet paraphernalia, bags of charcoal, barbecue accessories, children's toys and games, etc. Keep areas neat and yard furniture in good repair.
- Examine fences and gates, and repair or reinforce as necessary.
- Check gutters and roof for dry rot. Make sure gutters are free of debris.
- If you have a pool or spa, make sure it sparkles.
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Showing tips Leave certain lights on during the day. During showings turn on all lights and lamps. Leave your stereo or radio on and play soft music during showings. It's important that your home smell nice, too. Air out rooms and use room fragrances if you choose. It's in the best interest of both your pets and prospective buyers for pets to be kept safely out of the way. Most important of all, allow a lockbox on the property. Some agents will not bother to show property that does not have a lockbox. Sometimes a Realtor will request a showing on short notice. They might be in the area with a client, see the sign on the property, and call us by cellular phone to see if they can set a showing within a few minutes. Make the most of these impromptu opportunities by keeping your home neat and orderly while its on the market. We'll talk about concerns you might have about property showings including notice beforehand, considerations about pets, and concerns you might have about security.
OTHER AREAS of this website that will be useful to homebuyers Selecting A Realtor
Representation (Agency)
Glossary of Terms
Moving Checklist
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