When presenting your home to prospective buyers, first impressions are crucial. Think of your home as a product about to go on the market where it is probably competing with brand new housing. It needs to show well - which means clutter-free and well kept.
Buyers begin judging your home the moment they see it, and generally they prefer homes that are well-maintained, clean and clutter-free -- homes they can picture themselves living in. That is why home improvements - particularly if they address the anticipated needs of buyers - can boost your home's salability and sale price.
Today's homebuyers lead busy lives and may not be interested in taking on major repairs or improvements upon moving in. You need to make your house a "10". The following suggestions may give you the opportunity to take corrective action to ensure your house looks fresh, clean and well maintained when the "For Sale" sign goes up.
Here are a few proven, cost-effective tips that will help your home look its best:
Fix It First
If you need to make improvements to your home, do the work before it goes on the market. Potential buyers are not interested in hearing about your good intentions to look after defects before a transfer of ownership takes place. Even if fix-up work is underway, buyers may not be able to visualize what your home will look like when the work is finished. They will just remember it being in a state of disrepair.
Professional Inspection: Yes or No?
A serious buyer may want to have a professional home inspector check your house from top to bottom before making an offer. Even though this guide will help you identify problems on your own, the option of hiring a professional home inspector is open to you as well. If you can afford it, an inspection in advance of putting your home on the market is a good idea. It is your best way of finding and taking care of serious deficiencies before an inspector hired by a potential buyer discovers them.
Check Your House’s Curb Appeal
How does your house look from the street? That is where prospective buyers will be when they first see your home; and, that is where they will form that all-important first impression. Stand at the curb in front of your house and note what you see.
Exterior
If your lawn has bald spots, apply some top dressing and re-seed. Prune trees and shrubs of dead wood.
Weed and mulch flower beds, if you have them. If it is the right time of year, consider buying some flower-filled planters to enhance the eye appeal of your property. Make sure your lawn is mowed regularly.
Sweep sidewalks and driveway, pick up any litter
Repair cracked or uneven driveway or walkway surfaces.
Clean or paint front door, polish front door hardware, ensure doorbell works
Make sure windows are clean and touch up exterior paint if needed. A fresh cut of paint on the exterior trim will really add to the homes curb appeal.
Ensure your eaves and downspouts are clear of debris and in good repair.
Are your backyard deck and walkways clean? If not, use a power washer and do any necessary painting, staining or sealing.
If you have a swimming pool, are the deck and pool clean (when in season)?
Do all outside lights work? Replace any burned out bulbs, and clean fixtures of dirt and cobwebs.
Is there a shed? Does it look presentable?
Do windows and exterior doors need recaulking? Even at 6-7 years of age, the caulking may be dried out and in need of replacement.
Do you have decorative wooden posts on the porch? Is the wood at the bottom in good condition? Overall, does it need a new coat of paint?
If you have a gate, is it well oiled?
Interior
Clean and tidy the entrance, clear stairs and halls of any clutter
Brighten interiors with fresh, light-toned paint
Brighten rooms by installing high wattage light bulbs and turning them on
Shampoo carpets, clean and polish floors
Keep furniture to a minimum so rooms do not appear smaller than they are. Ensure that traffic can flow in or through rooms unimpeded. If they contain bookshelves or cabinets overflowing with books, magazines and knick-knacks, remove some of these items
Organize kitchen countertops - removing appliances if necessary - to make them look spacious
Thoroughly clean kitchen countertops, cabinets, all appliances, and washer and dryer
Remove anything stored on top of your fridge and remove artwork and magnets.
Organize and clean out closets to make them look larger
Clean and freshen bathrooms, put out clean towels, minimize clutter
Clean mirrors and windows so they sparkle
Perform necessary minor repairs and touch-ups to walls, windows, fixtures, etc
Fogging between the panes of a sealed window indicates the seal is broken and the unit needs to be replaced.
Basement and Garage
The condition of the foundation and main structural members in the basement are critical to the fitness of any house. The purpose of your inspection is to make sure these are sound and durable.
Look for cracks, water seepage, efflorescence (white powder-like substance), crumbling mortar or concrete, and rotting wood. If any of these problems are present, you need to do further research to learn about causes and possible solutions.
If your basement is damp or musty, consider using a dehumidifier.
Like all other areas of your home, your basement should be organized and clutter-free.
Change the filters in the furnace and have it cleaned–this is the number one item purchasers want done after a home inspection.
Get rid of broken tools, old car parts, discarded bicycles, empty paint cans and the hundreds of other useless items that accumulate in garages. Again, you want a clutter-free zone.
Use cleaning solutions to remove oil stains from the floor.
When It’s Showtime!
You have inspected your house and taken care of problems. Now you are ready for showings. You will need a plan of action that assigns duties to each family member so the place can quickly be whipped into shape.
Open all drapes, blinds, etc. and turn on lights to make the house bright.
Have fresh flowers in view.
Pick up clutter, and empty garbage.
Make sure everything is spotless.
Set your thermostat at a comfortable level.
Play quiet background music
Remove pets from the house or put them outside.
Display photos of the house in summer to show landscaping if selling in the winter months.
Leave out copies of utility bills
For those on a septic system and/or well, leave out inspection and maintenance information.
Make sure the house smells great. Baking a frozen pie or boiling a pot of water with cinnamon and vanilla in it are great ways to create comforting aromas. This should be done an hour or so prior to the showing if possible.
Be absent so buyers feel more comfortable making comments.
