First Impressions are Important!
People usually decide within two minutes whether they like your house. The first impression is often the lasting impression. They start forming their opinion before they even walk in the front door!
So it is smart to ask yourself, is your house is as presentable as it can be, for a faster sale at the best price? The best way to find out is to imagine you're a prospective buyer.
You've probably been looking at other homes, so approach your present home the way you look at other houses. Get into your car and drive up to your home the way a prospective buyer would.
MAKE YOUR HOUSE LOOK GREAT!
FOLLOW THESE FORTY-EIGHT!
OUTSIDE
1. Create a good first impression with a well-manicured lawn and cleanly swept walks.
2. Trim shrubbery that looks scraggly or keeps light out of the house.
3. In season, fertilize your lawn to keep it lush and green.
4. In winter, walks should be free of snow and ice.
5. Flowers outside the front door add cheer.
6. If color is dull or peeling, consider a coat of paint. This can do more for appeal than anything else. Stick to conventional colors.
7. Put a fresh coat of paint on shutters, window frames and mailbox.
8. Re-paint the front door.
9. Repair broken outdoor steps.
KITCHEN
10. Some say the kitchen is the heart of the home. Make it bright and attractive. Paint cabinets, put up new curtains.
11. Clean the ventilating hood over the stove.
12. If the floor is badly worn, put down new flooring. If a tile is loose, soften the adhesive by applying heat with a cloth covered iron. Then replace the tile.
13. Clear small appliances, such as toasters and coffee makers, from the counters. Clean counters make the room look larger.
BATHROOM
14. Repair dripping faucets, unclog slow drains.
15. Keep fresh towels in the bathroom.
16. Use special cleaning products to remove stains from bathtubs, toilets and sinks.
LIVING AREAS
17. Have all walls in top shape. Cracks, nail-pops, and visible seams are easy to fix.
18. Check ceilings for leak stains. Fix the cause of the damage, repair and re-paint the ceiling.
19. When painting and re-decorating, avoid off-beat colors, stick to light neutral colors.
20. Faded curtains and bedspreads can be dyed.
21. Wash windows, screens, and blinds.
22. Mend torn screens.
23. Replace broken glass doors and windows.
24. If you have a fireplace, clean it out and place logs in it to make the room cozy.
25. Check to see that all windows open and close.
26. Use brighter light bulbs, replace burned-out bulbs.
27. Be sure every light switch works.
28. Make floors shine - clean and polish them. Nail down creaking boards or stair treads (drive two long finishing nails at opposing angles through the floor and sub-floor into the joist.)
29. Straighten up the closets - get rid of excess. Use room deodorant to eliminate musty odors.
30. Lubricate squeaking doors, rub paraffin on frames of sticking doors.
31. If sliding doors stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin.
BASEMENT, ATTIC, GARAGE
32. Clean out attic, basement, and garage; dispose of everything you are not going to move. Package things you won't need until after you move.
33. Make sure the basement stairs are well-lit.
34. If your basement is dark, paint walls and ceilings a light color.
35. Repair cracks in basement floor with ready-mixed concrete.
WHEN YOUR HOUSE IS BEING SHOWN
36. Keep draperies and shades open. Natural light makes rooms appear larger.
37. Have your home well-lit during showing.
38. At night, turn on outside lighting in both front and back.
39. Avoid clutter, neatness makes a room look larger.
40. Avoid having dirty dishes in sinks or on counters.
41. Keep toys in children's rooms. Keep wagons, bikes and skateboards as inconspicuous as possible.
42. Keep radio, stereo, and TV off or turn volume down.
43. Keep children and pets quiet.
44. If your broker is holding an open house, take your family for a day trip.
45. Keep pets outdoors during showings.
46. Unless asked, don't mention furnishings you wish to dispose of, this discussion can harm the sale.
47. Let the real estate expert show your home and don't tag along. Answer questions candidly and briefly, when asked. If you can leave - leave!
48. Refer direct inquiries you receive about selling your house to your Realtor. Take advantage of your Realtor's professional skills.