Competition can be fierce in the real estate market. You have a house to sell before you can move on but so do hundreds of other owners. What will make your house "the chosen one” Put the best face possible on your home.
Start with the exterior. Do a drive-by of your own home; approach your home as a prospective buyer might. What is its first impression? Peeling paint, no exterior lighting, dead bushes and spent flowers, dead tree limbs, leaves on the lawn and walks, or toys, cars, and equipment cluttering up the grounds?
Start at the curb. Make sure the lawns, walks, flower beds, bushes and trees are cleaned up; mulch the flower beds. If you are coming into the spring market, do some cheerful planting around the house. Touch up peeling paint on the exterior. Repair or remove damaged shutters. Put a fresh coat of cheerful paint on your front and rear doors. Hang a tasteful welcoming wreath on the door. Be sure your exterior lighting allows prospective buyers and their realtor safe and comfortable access.
On the interior of your home, do a survey, and un-clutter. Over-crowded rooms seem smaller and are distracting to a buyer. Clean up and clean out. Do this on a room by room basis.
In the winter months, since it is dark earlier and many days are overcast, be sure to have all rooms well lit. There is something about interior lighting; especially if there's not natural outside light, that warms the spirit and says welcome to your new home. For daytime showings, be sure window coverings are open to allow in as much natural light as possible.
Be sure your home is clean and have all the windows washed inside and out-sparkling windows are cheerful.
If you are going to have a yard sale before you move, do it before you put your home on the market. This will help you to dispose of items cluttering up the house, basement and garage. Remember this process not only helps you sell your home but will make your move more efficient.
Basements are a special source of interest to buyers. Basements contain some of the most important elements of a home-the heating and cooling systems, electrical systems, hot water heaters, water treatment systems, and often tell the tale of whether there is any water coming into the house. Be sure to clean out, freshen up.
Before opening your doors to potential Buyers, use this checklist to help your get your home ready!
1. De-Clutter!
This can't be overemphasized. A cluttered home is a turnoff to most buyers. It's also potentially dangerous. Remember, it's not enough to simply stuff everything into cabinets and closets; people will be looking inside these area to assess storage capacity. Either get rid of it or store it offsite.
2. The white glove test
Clean up! Not just everyday cleaning like dusting, sweeping and scrubbing the bathtub. You've got to deep clean: carpets should be steam cleaned, drapes washed/dry cleaned, upholstery thoroughly vacuumed and shampooed if necessary. Attend to areas that are often ignored – the top of the fridge, cobwebby corners, cabinet interiors, and the oven. The kitchen and bathroom should be spotless. Can't manage to make your home immaculate? A maid service is a worthy investment in getting the best offer.
3. Revive and Repair
A fresh coat of light, neutral paint is practically obligatory. If you have decent hardwood under grungy or outdated carpet, consider trashing the carpet and refinishing the floors. Take care of scuffed woodwork, ripped wallpaper, water damage and exposed wiring. Half-finished home improvement projects deter buyers; complete any such projects if at all possible.
4. Enhance curb appeal
Most buyers form conclusions about a property from the curb. Cast the same critical eye on your home's exterior. Does the roofing need repair? Are the gutters overflowing with debris? Does the front lawn look like a missile site? Does the driveway need sealing? Make any necessary exterior improvements. Try buying a fresh new doormat and decorate with some container plants.
5. Lawn and order
If you haven't paid attention to landscaping; it's too late to start planting trees. Young ones will have no impact and mature ones are expensive. Prune, trim and weed whatever you have. For a few hundred dollars, consider having a professional landscape plan done. An appealing landscape plan may help buyers envision the potential for the home. Don't forget interior landscaping: if you have no healthy house plants inside your home, buy a few attractive specimens and locate them strategically around the house. Dump any dead or dying plants.
6. Depersonalize
Put away family photos, children's artwork, trophies, pet toys, etc., to help buyers imagine themselves in your home. Clear all the stuff off the fridge; the kitchen will look bigger and cleaner.
7. The sniff test
To check for off-putting odours that can cost you a sale, ask your real estate agent (or a trusted friend or neighbour) to help you identify bad smells in your home. Common culprits include smoking; laundry; bathroom mould and mildew; garbage cans; musty basements; cooking smells; litter boxes and other pet paraphernalia. Don't attempt to cover bad smells with deodorizers and air fresheners—address the problem.
8. Light up your life
Check that every single fixture in the house has a working light bulb of the maximum safe wattage. Clean all the windows so that buyers can appreciate how bright the rooms really are.
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