Lots of us start the New Year looking to sell our homes. In this article, you can find some tips to help you do that. These tips are coming from a Professional Realtor who has been in the business since 2003.
Getting Your Home Ready To Sell
- Edge, mow, and fertilize the lawn. Reseed sparse areas, or plant new sod. Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees. Cut back overgrown shrubbery. Add some spring flowers to freshen up the beds.
- Reseal cracks in foundation, steps, walkways, walls, and patios. Power-wash the exterior or have a professional do it - this is fairly affordable and makes a huge difference in curb appeal.
- Clean and align gutters and downspouts; clean the chimney.
- Remove oil stains from the driveway and garage. Keep walks and driveway swept.
- Wash the windows inside and out. If you want to stand out from other homes on the market, this is a great tip!
- Hire a cleaning service to thoroughly clean the interior, but only if you need the help and want to save time.
- Paint the walls and ceilings in neutral colors or freshen up areas where needed.
- Repair cracks, holes, and damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
- Replace damaged window panes, moldings, and woodwork. An appraisal may call for wood rot to be repaired or replaced. This saves time in the end and adds value to your home.
- Repair drippy faucets and showerheads. Unclog slow drains.
- Shampoo carpets, scrub and wax linoleum or wood floors.
- Clean out the fireplace and lay some logs in it.
- Mend torn screens. Clean out all window tracks.
- Replace burned-out light bulbs. Use brighter light bulbs. This makes the home "show-ready" for pictures.
- Renail creaking boards or stairs; lubricate squeaking doors.
- Clean all appliances (especially refrigerator, sink, and oven).
- Replace old toilet seats and shower curtains with a neutral color.
- Clear all cobwebs from corners and doorways.
- Wash all light switches, handrails, and doorknobs.
- Remove clutter. Get a storage unit or box up unnecessary items. This is key so someone looking at your home can picture themselves living there with their items in the home.
Think of how you would like a home to look when you are purchasing. The more time you spend getting your home ready to sell, the faster it will sell.
Unless you want a buyer who is looking for a fixer-upper, try to prepare your home as much as possible. We have given these tips to sellers over the years, and they have been very satisfied with the return they have received. Even if you don't get everything on the list done, just remember, every little bit helps.
