Get Your Home Ready To Sell
In preparing your house to sell, ask yourself over and over if your
house looks like someone else's dream house. Houses in move-in
condition tend to be inviting to buyers; houses that are like new
typically sell the fastest and procure the best price.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when getting
ready to sell:
Exterior
Remember the 60-second rule: that's all the time you have to create
a good first impression! Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and
shrubs that keep light out of the house and remove dead plants. Pick
up tools, garbage cans, hoses, toys, and building materials and
store them neatly in a storage area. Replace broken or missing roof
shingles and straighten and clean the gutters and downspouts. Clean
all windows and mend torn screens. Painting your house helps improve
curb appeal more than any other fix-up! If you decide against
painting the entire house, consider painting the front door, window
frames and shutters. Seal or resurface the driveway and repair
broken steps and walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post.
Dress up the front yard with some simple landscaping.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Step back for a moment and look at your home as if you were seeing
it for the first time. Every room should be spotlessly clean, dusted
and uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash
the walls, windows and light fixtures. Tighten loose stair railings
and clean all woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this
magnitude is better left to a professional, ask your real estate
agent to recommend a cleaning service.
Entryway
Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill
the house with a pleasant aroma, such as berries in the summer or
cinnamon in the winter.
Living Room
Replace the carpet if it's worn. It costs money, but you may find
that you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch
cracks and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral
colors, such as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair
treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. Open all
curtains, and replace them if they are getting old. Add lamps and
lighting if the house is dark. Set out fresh flowers.
Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious.
Too much furniture and too many knick-knacks make rooms look
cluttered and small. One or two decorative items per surface are
plenty, so pack the rest away.
Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters, and clean all
appliances and fixtures. Scrub the floors and walls. Re-caulk tubs
and showers. Clean these rooms thoroughly, and be sure they smell
fresh.
Closets
Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway
when you move. Organize shelves and straighten shoes. Be sure that
sliding doors operate smoothly and knobs on drawers are secure.
Utility Room
Dust and wash the washer, dryer and water heater.
Light and Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper
with white or off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls.
Open the blinds, and replace broken windows and window seals. Always
maintain a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are
away for an extended period of time.
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Phone: (712)-255-5611 |
|
|
||
|
||