1) CURB APPEAL– The First Impression
a. FRONT YARD: Pretend you are
visiting your home for the first time.
Is it inviting and draws you in, or do you immediately see areas that
need cleaning up? Buyers like to be wooed
by a nice front yard and they will notice everything – the trees, the grass,
the driveway, shrubs that need maintenance and the flower pots that are begging
for some new spring planting. – Keep the grass mowed, the shrubs and trees
pruned, the pathway clean, and spread some mulch to make it all look nice and
taken care of.
b. DOOR & BELL: The front door
should be inviting, not flimsy, or outdated, or have a color that does not
match the house. Your door bell should
have a button that is not broken and it should function.
c. WINDOWS & SCREENS: Windows
should be clean and screens should be clean and without tears. Some inexpensive
screen repair kits can help you out in those cases.
2)
INSIDE YOUR
HOME
a. SCENTS: If you’ve had PETS or were a SMOKER,
make sure the house doesn’t still have the smells lingering. Buyers want to see and smell a clean house.
It also gives them the impression that your home was well taken care of.
b. FAUCETS: Drip….drip….drip…. Check your FAUCETS! Are they all in good functioning order? Make sure all the plumbing is taken care of
before the first buyer comes to see the house.
c. COLORS: Your idea of a cozy home wall color
may not be the buyers’ idea. If you liked strong colors, give it all a coat of
paint and keep it neutral in beige and grey tones.
d. LIGHTS:
Are all the light bulbs working inside and out? Everyone likes to give the switches a try and
see what turns on. Make sure it all
works.
e.
DOOR
HINGES: Squeaky hinges have not that big of an effect on buyers, but
it’s such a small thing to fix: a little WD40 on the door hinges and they work
smoothly again.
f. SPOTS: Any spots on carpets and other floor surfaces
should be removed. They will keep the
buyers’ eyes fixated on them, rather than on the rest of your home’s positive features.
3) KITCHEN & BATHROOMS
Think of
your kitchen as the home’s business card.
Of course, replacing an entire kitchen can run into
some serious cost,
but small improvements can go a long way: new coat of paint, new cabinet
handles,
clean and uncluttered kitchen counters, clean and shiny sink.
4) CLUTTER
Last, but
not least - and speaking of clutter…. If you want your buyers to imagine themselves
in your
house, remember that they come with furniture! Make room so they can imagine their “stuff”
in your
space. The less of your personal
items are visible, the better.
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