A house that "sparkles" on
the surface will sell faster than its shabby
neighbor, even though both are structurally well
maintained.
From experience, REALTORS®
also know that a "well-polished" house appeals
to more buyers and will sell faster and for a
higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more
comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home
because if what they can see is well maintained,
they assume that what they can't see has
probably also been well maintained. In readying
your house for sale, consider:
Before putting your house
on the market, take as much time as necessary
(and as little money as possible) to maximize
its exterior and interior appeal.
How Much Should You
Spend to Prepare Your House for Sale?
In preparing your home for the market, spend as
little money as possible. Buyers will be
impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't
likely to give you enough extra money to pay for
it. There is a big difference between making
minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to
your house, such as putting new knobs on
cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in
the living room, and doing extensive and costly
renovations, like installing a new kitchen.
Your REALTOR® is familiar
with buyers' expectations in your neighborhood
and can advise you specifically on what
improvements need to be made and which
improvements are most effective. Don't hesitate
to ask for advice.
Maximizing Exterior and
Curb Appeal
When preparing to put your home up for sale,
your first concern is the home's exterior. If
the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people
will more than likely want to see what's on the
inside.
Here are some tips to
enhance your home’s exterior and curb appeal to
buyers:
-
Keep the lawn edged, cut
and watered.
-
Regularly trim hedges
and weed lawns and flowerbeds.
-
Be sure your front door
area has a "Welcome" feeling.
-
Paint the front door.
-
In spring and summer,
add a couple of pots of showy annuals near
your front entrance.
-
In snowy areas, keep
walks neatly cleared of snow and ice.
-
Check foundation, steps,
walkways, walls and patios for cracks and
deterioration, and fix any problem areas.
-
Remove and repaint any
peeling paint on doors and windows.
-
Clean and align gutters.
-
Inspect and clean the
chimney.
-
Repair and replace loose
or damaged roof shingles.
-
Repair and repaint loose
siding and caulking.
-
Reseal old asphalt.
-
Keep the garage door
closed.
-
Store RVs and old cars
elsewhere while the house is on the market.
Maximizing Interior
Appeal
You want your home to look as spacious, bright
and clean as possible. Also the home should look
neutral – without a lot of your personal and
sentimental objects - so buyers can begin to
imagine living there.
Here are some tips to
enhance your home’s interior appeal to buyers:
-
Give every room in the
house a thorough cleaning and remove all
clutter. This alone will make your house
appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners
with crowded rooms actually rent storage
garages and move half their furniture out,
creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
-
Use a professional
cleaning service every few weeks while the
house is on the market.
-
Remove the less
frequently used, and even daily-used items
from kitchen counters, closets, basement and
attic to make these areas more inviting.
-
Make sure that table
tops, dressers and closets are free of
clutter.
-
Pay special attention to
the kitchen and bathrooms: they should look as
modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is
essential for them to be clean and odor free.
-
Repair dripping faucets
and showerheads.
-
Buy showy new towels for
the bathroom, and put them out only for
showings.
-
Spruce up a kitchen in
need of more major remodeling by installing
new curtains and cabinet knobs, or applying a
fresh coat of neutral paint.
-
Clean walls and doors of
smudges and scuff marks.
-
If necessary, repaint
dingy, soiled or strongly-colored walls with a
neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or
beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied
to carpets and linoleum.
-
Check for cracks, leaks
and signs of dampness in the attic and
basement, and fix any problem areas.
-
Seal basement walls if
there are any signs of dampness or leakage.
-
Repair cracks, holes or
damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint
and tiles.
-
Replace broken or
cracked windowpanes, moldings and other
woodwork.
-
Inspect and repair the
plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.
