37 Quick & Easy Fix-Ups to sell your home Fast and for Top Dollar
Sprucing Up
Your Home:
First Impressions Are Lasting!
When the potential buyer approaches in their car they make their first decision... whether or not to STOP and look inside. A neat, attractive yard is invaluable to enticing a buyer to view your home. You'll need to use a keen eye to carefully evaluate every aspect of your yard.
• Keep your yard mowed, raked, fertilized and watered.
• Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash items, animal debris, and so on from your yard.
• Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed. Lawns and gardens should be weeded regularly.
• All hoses and garden equipment should be out of sight.
• Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or repainted if needed.
• Walkways and driveways should be clear of debris.
• Paint your mailbox if needed. Ensure street number is legible.
Put your home's best face forward!
Is the outside as attractive as the inside?
• Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions should be uncluttered, swept and in good condition.
• Paint all entrance doors. This is where the potential buyer forms an opinion of the home.
• Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace them if faded. Remove windsocks, chimes, etc.
• Keep trash cans deodorized, covered and out of sight.
• Gates, fences, wall sheds and other outer buildings should be cleaned, repaired and painted.
• Clean and shine all metal accessories (door knobs, door knockers, lamps, mailboxes, street numbers, etc.).
• Clean, repair and paint all gutters and downspouts.
• Make sure the garage door opens easily. Repair if needed and paint it.
• Paint the chimney vents. Inspect and repair any loose bricks or stones. Caulk where the chimney meets the roof.
• An investment in painting your home can really make the difference between "turning on" the buyer and sending up a "red flag" about the condition of the home. You may lose buyers due to what you might consider to be an insignificant issue.
Now evaluate
the inside of your home!
• Wash all the windows-inside and out! This adds to overall impression and helps your home show in a nice, bright light. • Curtains should be clean and attractive.
• Remove all smoke, pet and hobby odors from the home.
• Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers so that the home is brighter.
• Shampoo all carpets and vacuum them daily.
• Clean everything in your home from top to bottom.
• Remove grease from the range hood, oven, stove top, etc. Replace burner pans. They are very inexpensive.
• Clean all the rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean.
• Remove all "junk" from closets, garage, tool shed and especially from the storage area if your home has one. Large storage areas are appealing to buyers. Rent a storage area for these items to get them out of the house.
• Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors. Putty and paint any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps.
• Clean hardwood floors.
• Remove cobwebs from corners.
• FIX THE FRONT DOORBELL!
• Make sure the front door, storm door, screen door, etc., are in perfect condition. If not, replace them. This is the first impression the buyer has of the home. Lighting and cleanliness here are especially important
• Repair or replace banisters and handrails.
• Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers.
• Repair or replace loose wallpaper - or LOSE IT!
• Replace toilet bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean. It's not expensive and makes a big difference.
• Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
• Improve the plumbing to increase water pressure. Buyers will check this every time. |
