Preparing Your Home For Sale
A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well-maintained.
From experience, a REALTOR® also knows that a “well-polished” house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is maintained, what they can’t see has probably also been maintained. When getting you house ready for sale, there are a few things to consider:
How Much Should You Spend
In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren’t likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive “polishes” and “touch-ups” to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.
Preparing the Exterior
Preparing the exterior (curb appeal) of your home for sale is probably the most important step you can take. If you can’t get them through the front door, you can’t get them to buy. If they don’t like what they see when they drive up, you’ve lost a potential buyer. So take some time, and get unbiased opinions of what needs to be spruced up, changed, or removed.
Keeping the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly Trim hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and pruning trees regularly Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint
Clean and aligning and fix gutters
Inspect and clean the chimney
Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles
Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking During spring and summer months considering adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance
Re-seal an asphalt driveway
Keep your garage door closed
Store RVs or old and beaten up teens’ jalopies elsewhere while the house is on the market Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door
Preparing the Interior
Once you have the “curb appeal” taken care of, it’s time to head inside and prepare the inside as well. Again, get some unbiased opinions of what should be changed, what should be cleared out and put in storage, and what should be emphasized. You have a potential buyer’s interest if you got them inside to look around… don’t lose them now.
Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented
Storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look. Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere. Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you’re anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
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. Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement. Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles. Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems. Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads. Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
