We have all heard the expression “You’ll never get a second chance to make a great first impression.” This also applies to selling your home. From the moment buyers are driving down your street they are already seeing if they can call this home. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and the price a buyer is willing to offer. Here are some simple suggestions to help maximize your home’s appeal.
Exterior:
- Keep the grass cut, trim landscaping and weed flower beds. Add fresh mulch or pinestraw where needed.
- Check for dead branches in trees and shrubbery.
- Store all outdoor lawn equipment and toys.
- Repair and paint or stain wooden fences to give your yard that well-maintained appearance.
- Check for grease and oil spots in the driveway.
- Check for defective heads on the sprinkler system and for proper water coverage over entire lawn.
- Ensure all gutters and downspouts are firmly attached and functioning.
- Powerwash the home’s exterior.
- Make sure the front door is clean with the trim painted or stained if needed. Check doorbell and outside lights to see if they are operating properly.
- Clean the patio or deck and arrange outdoor furniture to be “welcoming” and easy to move around.
- Check garage doors and opener to see if they are in good working order. De-clutter the garage so the buyer can see how much space they have for their belongings.
- Look for loose shingles or broken tiles on the roof. If mildew has occurred, consider professional cleaning.
- Repair or replace all broken windows and screens.
- Buy a new welcome mat.
- Place potted plants/flowers near front door.
- Inspect exterior paint on trim, gutters, downspouts, and mailbox.
Interior:
- Check blinds and draperies for cleanliness.
- Clean or paint walls and ceilings. If you have wallpaper, look closely for repair or replacement.
- All interior and exterior doors should be cleaned, hardware tightened and oiled for smooth opening and closing.
- The air-conditioning system must be functioning at top performance, but also check for proper draining, install a new filter, and clean exterior unit.
- Evaluate the furniture in each room and remove anything that interrupts “the flow” or makes the room appear smaller. Consider renting a storage unit to move items off-site.
- Clean and organize cabinets, closets and bookshelves. Remove some of your family photos, mementos and personalized decor to help buyers visualize themselves in your home.
- Remove excessive wall hangings and knick-knacks.
- Steam clean carpets and repair or replace damaged tile.
- Check for leaks in the plumbing including faucets and drain stops. Clean stains from stainless steel sinks and check enamel for repair.
- Make repairs to torn screens, sticking doors, cracked caulking and discolored grout.
- Check all light fixtures and ceiling fans. Repair all switches and outlets that are not working. Good lighting through adequate wattage in garage, hallways, and closets will brighten up your home.
- Clean the oven, stove top, refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and exhaust hood.
- Replace worn countertops.
- In the kitchen, make sure to clean all surfaces, check for loose knobs and sticky drawers.
- Keep bathroom mirrors, shower doors, curtains, tub caulking, and flooring clean and dirty clothes and towels picked up.
Although it is not required to keep your homes in showroom or model condition, it is a good recommendation to start on this list before or at the beginning of listing your house. You never know when that prospective buyer will want to set an appointment to see your house. You want to make sure you create a winning first impression.