Your home must be the best on the market for your price range!
- Neutralize. Go through a model home and the first thing you will notice is that the colors are neutral and there is no personal clutter.
- Don’t Distract Buyers. You want potential buyers looking at the house, not photos from your latest vacation.
- Pre-Pack. You will be moving soon anyway, so start packing now. Pack away knick knacks and collectibles. Remove any stacks of magazines or newspapers. Store out-of-season clothing so that closets look neat and tidy.
- Shine. Clean your windows and screens, especially if you have a view you want potential buyers to see.
- Spring clean. Be thorough. Clean window sills, switch plates, baseboards, ceiling fan blades. Make sure the oven is clean… yes, buyers will look.
- Smell inviting. Cleaning your carpets and drapes will help remove everyday odors that all of us accumulate. Wash your bedding. Open your windows during good weather before a showing. The aroma of fresh baked cookies always helps!
- Make it “light & bright.” Open drapes and turn on all of the lights when expecting buyers. I usually advocate being green, but in this case you’re trying to make some green, so use the maximum wattage bulbs specified for each light socket – it will make a room seem brighter. Make sure all light fixtures are functioning correctly.
- Fix it. Deferred maintenance not only scares buyers, but invites low offers. Fix any doors that stick, repair torn window screens, replace bad caulk, fix all leaky sink fixtures, etc.
- Mow the lawn. Nothing tells a buyer you don’t care about your home than an unkept yard. Mow the lawn, trim and edge; rake leaves. Color is always inviting. Plant some flowers or hang flower baskets.
- Seal the deal. Make sure your driveway is in good repair. Seal cracks if necessary. Are the rain gutters clean and leakproof? Does the front door sparkle and shine?
