Preparing Your Home For Sale

People often buy a home based on their feelings about it. When selling your home, it's important to keep this in mind...regardless of your location and price, if something about your home “feels” wrong, buyers will look elsewhere.

Get the competitive edge by making sure all areas of your home are in tip-top shape before putting it on the market.

Inside Your Home

• Get out your tool kit...tighten loose doorknobs, pulls and drawers and cabinets, towel racks, switch plates, and outlet covers. Fix loose stair banisters and sticking or squeaky doors and windows. Fix leaky faucets, remove water stains, repair caulking.
• Arrange furniture - and discard unused items - so each room appears as spacious as possible.
• Brighten your rooms with fresh paint. White, off-white or beige will make rooms look bigger and lighter. They're also more likely to go with the new buyer's furnishings.
• Clean all your windows and mirrors.
• Check closets for neatly arranged clothes and as few items as possible stored overhead and on floors.
• Leave kitchen countertops clear.
• Clean the oven and appliances. Polish all the chrome and the tub, toilets and sinks.
• Go through the basement, attic and garage, and organize them so they appear as spacious, neat and clean as possible.
• Launder draperies and curtains.
• Shampoo carpets and wax floors.

Outside Your Home

• Keep your lawn well-trimmed and edged. Trim shrubs. Remove dead limbs and debris.
• Plant some extra flowers for color - or put pots of flowers beside the front door.
• Remove snow from sidewalks, entry way and drive way so it's easy for potential buyers to enter your home.
• Arrange outdoor items, such as firewood and outdoor furniture.
• Check surfaces such as siding, window sashes, trim and shutters. Clean or touch up with paint.
• Make sure the entry light and doorbell work. Paint, stain or clean the front door if needed.
• Check the roof for shingles or flashing that needs replacing. Clean and align gutters.
• Replace faded house numbers with shiny new ones.
• If needed, repaint or replace the mailbox.