HELPFUL HINTS TO PREPARE YOUR HOME FOR SELLING

Your real estate agent is highly trained in finding buyers and getting them to your home, but getting your home ready for prospective buyers is primarily the owner's responsibility.The more effort you put into the presentation of your home before the buyers arrive, the more you'll get out of it when the buyers leave. Don't be afreaid to invest a few dollars into getting your home ready for showing. You'll get it back in the form of a higher selling price and a much faster sale. People make decisions based in large part on emotions. What they see effects how they feel, and if they get  good feelings about your home, they'll be more likely to buy it. Please read through the following tips and then pay attention to detail. It will pay off.

THE EXTERIOR

Lawn: Make sure the yard is neatly mowed, raked, and swept.                               

Trees/Shrubs: Prune and shape them to make them compliment your home.

Flowers: Consider adding seasonal flowers or hanging a few strategically placed baskets of color flowers.

Sidewalks/Driveways: Sweep and wash away debris, dirt, and stains. Repair and patch cracks.In the winter, keep them free from snow and ice.

Painting: Repaint or touchup as necessary. You can't find a better investment when selling your home. Don't let the outside turn buyers off before the inside can turn them on.

Doors/Windows: See that all doors and windows are in good working order. Clean and paint the doors if necessary. Wash windows and replace broken or cracked panes. Screens should be free of tears or holes. Inspect all locks to ensure they are functioning properly.

Roofs/Gutters/Down Spouts: Check for loose or missing shingles> Clean out gutters and down spouts. Touch up any peeling paint.

INTERIOR

Atmosphere: Place yourself in a potential buyer's shoes. Keep color, lighting, and smell in mind as you go through this checklist. Create the atmosphere of your home as a warm, safe, and secure environment.

Smell: A clean smelling home creates a positive image in the buyer's mind. Be aware of any odors from cooking, tobacco, pets, etc., that may have adverse effects on a buyer. Bring in 'friendly' odors such as freshly baked bread, holiday incense, etc. Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, so to speak. 

Color: Be cautious when selecting color when painting or selecting carpeting. The key is to promote your home to the largest segment of the buying market, and this is done via neutral colors.

Lighting: Take advantage of natural light as much as possible by cleaning windows, and then opening shades and drapes. Add lamps and lighting where necessary. Be sure that all fuxtures are clean, in working condition, and have functional light bulbs. Increase the wattage of the bulbs in basements and garage areas. Repair any broken switches.

Walls: Check for loose paint and peeling wall paper. Repait cracks and holes.

Floors: Clean and sanitize all carpeting and area rugs. If carpeting is really bad, replace it. At the very least, where wood floors are under carpeting, remove it...period. Clean and polish lenoleum, tile, and wood floors. If wood floors are really bad, consider refinishing them.

Closets: Have your closets clean and organized so they look as spacious as possible. Empty closets of seasonal items and pack them away for the move.

Furniture: Arrange furniture so as to give rooms a feeling of spaciousness. Avoid clutter. If you have items that you'll be discarding when you move, get rid of them now. Pack up knicknacks, both to protect them, and to give a more spacious appearance. Leave just enough 'personal' items out to give your house the feeling that it is your 'home.'

Woodwork: Clean and polish all the woodwork. Pay particular attention fo kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

Bathrooms: Cleanliness is the key. Be fure that all surfaces are spotless. Remove any nonskid decals that are in poor condition. Replace worn and durty shower curtains. Clean and repait calking and grouting. Clean off countertops  and store away personal items wherever possible. Repair any faucets that leak or don't work properly. Unclog any drains that need it. Clean and organize drawers. Consider bring out the 'company' towels. Ad a plant or two for freshness and color.

Fireplace: Sweep amd clean the fireplace. Place a few logs on the grate for appearances. In season, a lighted fire during showings adds warmth and additional atmosphere.

Appliances: Keep all appliances clean, bright, and shiny.

Dining Room: Consider adding fresh or silk flowers and setting the table with attractive place settings.

Kitchen: Avoid clutter again. Store smaller appliances wherever possible to maximize work space. Clean and organize storage areas and pantries. Sinks and countertops should been clean and fresh.

Basement/Attic: The basement and attic should been cleaned and organized. A basic rule of thumb would be that if you don't plan on taking it with you, get rid of it now. Be sure the stairs are cleared and well lighted, and the handrails are secure.

Garage: Sweep and wash the floors to remove dirt and stains. Organize garden tools, garden equipment, bicycles, etc. The more you have neatly in a place, the larger the garage will look.

Items Not Included In The Sale: Wherever possible, and items not being included in the sale should be stored away or removed.