Appearance
- 'Curb Appeal'
Few things are more
important than making a good first impression. There is nothing more
lingering than a bad first impression. Experts recommend
that sellers take a step back to take a critical look to
evaluate just what they can do to enhance
the appeal of the home they are selling.
EXTERIOR
Begin the process of
preparing your house for sale by venturing outside and personally
evaluating your property from curbside. You must be objective here.
See for yourself what a visitor will notice as they approach the
property. Will their first impression be a good one?
Has the exterior of the house been well cared for?
- How does it compare
with the other homes in the neighborhood?
- Is the landscaping
maintained and well groomed?
- Do toys, tools, or trash litter the landscape
detracting
from the appeal of the house?
Enhance the exterior and curb
appeal:
- Keep the lawn well manicured; cut,
edge, and watered regularly
- Trim hedges, weed lawns and
flowerbeds
- Check foundation, steps, walkways, walls
and patios for cracks, crumbling and repair where required
- Inspect doors and windows for peeling
paint;
- Clean and align gutters;
- Inspect and clean the chimney;
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof
shingles;
- Repair and repaint loose siding and
caulking;
- Consider adding new plant and flowers
- Re-seal or repair driveway
blemishes
- Keep the garage door closed
- Store extra vehicles and RVs elsewhere
while the house is on the market
- Pay special attention to the front door,
consider applying a fresh coat of paint
Complete your inspection by
walking around the house and into the back yard. Remain critical! Keep in
mind that you are pretending to wear the shoes of a potential buyer.
You are also following a path that will be walked by a home
inspector or others dispatched by the buyer to offer professional opinions regarding the
property.
INTERIOR
Start your internal inspection at
the front door and walk through the house as a prospective buyer
might. Stop at each doorway and evaluate each room to gain an over first
impression.
If your goal is to sell,
you may need to do whatever it takes to maximize the appeal of the
house. Stay focused on your goal. The process of readying your house
for sale requires a critical eye, an impersonal attitude, and in
some cases nominal investment.
Watch out for:
- Clutter -
Piles of newspapers, magazines, toys and other objects, and even
mail will distract from the charm of a room and will make the room seem
smaller.
- Dirt - Experts
recommend
that you hire a professional cleaning service to thoroughly
clean your house. A clean house will reinforce the impression of
being well cared for and offers a subtle assurance to most
buyers.
- Poor lighting -
Good
lighting will contribute to a feeling of spaciousness. Inspect those
things that contribute to the brightness of the room. Make sure
windows sparkle from inside and out, open curtains and shades,
replace burned out light bulbs, and wipe down smudges or marks on
walls.
- Beware of too much furniture -
This is often a problem when you have lived in
your home for several years. Consider moving furniture from one room
to another or remove certain pieces altogether which can greatly
improve the look and feel of a room.
- Poor decor - Be on
the look out for worn fabric, clashing colors, or decorations that are so
personal that they make the buyer focus on you rather than on your
property.
Enhance the
interior:
- Give every room in the house a thorough
cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make
your house appear bigger and brighter. Often homeowners with overly crowded rooms rent
storage garages and move excess furniture
out, providing a sleeker, more spacious look.
- Hire a professional cleaning service,
every few weeks while the house is on the market
- Remove less frequently used, even
daily used, items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making
these areas much more inviting and spacious.
- If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled, or
strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, consider
off-white or beige.
- Check for cracks, leaks and signs of
dampness in the attic and basement.
- Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster,
wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replace broken or cracked window,
moldings, and woodwork.
- Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling
systems.
- Repair dripping faucets and showerheads.
- Buying special towels for the
bathroom, display them only when prospective buyers are
expected.
- Spruce up your kitchen by investing in new
cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of
neutral paint. Consider baking bread when prospective buyer are expected.
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