If you want to get the best price for your house, view it through the eyes of a potential buyer and be as objective as possible. Consider what you would look for if you were to go through someone’s home with the idea of perhaps purchasing it. Remember, the more “move-in” ready your house appears to a buyer, the more they will be willing to pay for it. On the outside, it is important that your house has a welcoming curb appeal. Take a walk around your house and try to look at it through the eyes of a buyer seeing it for the first time: • Is the landscaping in the front and back yard well maintained? • Is the driveway in good condition? • How about your siding, garage doors, windows and gutters? Do they need cleaning and/or maintenance? • Does your doorbell work? • Is your mailbox in good shape? • Do your walkway and front entry/steps need maintenance? • Are all the outside lights working? • If you have a deck, what is its condition? Some investment in time and money will do wonders. Clean your windows if necessary, paint garage doors and any trimming around the doors and windows; power wash your vinyl siding; make sure all the lights and your doorbell are working; fix any broken bricks in the walkway or steps in front of the entry (you also don’t want anyone tripping and falling); and finally brighten up the landscaping by mowing your lawn, planting flowers and plants, cutting back foliage and mulching flowerbeds. REMEMBER, FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE KEY and it is the curb appeal of your house that will leave a lasting first impression on a buyer. On the inside, the first thing anyone will see is your entry. Make sure it is inviting, uncluttered and bright. As you walk through your house, keep in mind what it is that potential buyers will first see as they move from one room to another: • UNCLUTTER – Pack and move away all things you do not need to have around the house. Your home will look more spacious and buyers will be less distracted by collections. Make sure your closets are uncluttered as well. • If you have too much furniture in some rooms, do some editing. You don’t want the furniture to overpower the rooms. Buyers should be able to feel the spaciousness of the rooms and picture their own furniture in the house. • Clean windows, light fixtures, fans, windowsills, carpets, floors, bath tubs and window treatments. Check often for cobwebs in corners. • Make sure all your appliances and lights are working (replace burnt out bulbs) • Take care of little things. Repair small cracks; water leaks; make sure all light switches have plates & that they work; fix doors that don’t close property. • If you have a basement or garage which you use for storage, go through them and organize. Have a garage sale if necessary to get rid of what you don’t need. For the rest, buy shelving and plastic containers to store your things in and get them off the floor. • Prior to open houses and buyer previews, try to avoid cooking. While the smell of a freshly baked pie may be very welcoming, other dishes will leave an unpleasant lingering aroma in the air. • If you have pets, make sure their toys are out of the way. Clean litter boxes (for cats,) cages (for birds) and their food dishes. • Don’t overdo the use of scented candles. While using lightly scented ones are fine try to avoid anything that’s very strong. It may not appeal to everyone’s taste. • Keep kitchen and bathroom counters as clean and neat as possible. Refrigerator doors, bulletin boards, desks should all be uncluttered. • Finally, make sure your rooms are as bright as they can be. Remove curtains or furniture pieces that block windows and impede light. For areas where there is limited natural light available, place light fixtures with appropriate lighting to brighten up the space. Some paint, inexpensive window treatments, lighting and bathroom fixtures as well as hardware can go a long way to give your home a fresh and new look. You can get ideas from many places including magazines, home décor shows on television and stores like Home Depo and Lowes whose websites are filled with decorating tips.
