Preparing Your Home For Sale

The First Impression Counts... Let’s Make it a Positive One!
The most important single reason that a home sells is its Emotional Appeal. Over 90% percent of buyers in today’s market buy on emotion. Looking at your house through “buyer’s eyes” can help you prepare your home to sell for the best price, in the least amount of time.
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When you begin preparing your home, begin outside and work your way in. Make up a “to do” list as you go along, keeping in mind the importance of first impressions. 

Exterior Tips
It’s estimated that more than half of all houses are sold before buyers even get out of their cars. Stand across the street from your home and review its “curb appeal”. What can you do to improve the very first impression?
  • Keep sidewalks and patios hosed off.
  • Hose down house siding to remove cobwebs and dirt.
  • Hose down your garage and clean your driveway of any grease spots.
  • A garage can be an important selling point for your home, and a good spraying with a garden hose and just a drop of industrial strength cleaner can make a big difference.
  • Mow, trim, weed, and water lawns and gardens. Add a fresh layer of mulch or gravel if needed and plant flowers for color.
  • The front door is one of the first things prospective buyers see. If it shows signs of wear — clean it, stain, it, or paint it.
  • Make sure the doorbell and porch lights work.
  • Remove trash and debris from the yard and around house. Remove extra vehicles from view.
  • Repair any fences or gates. Apply fresh paint to wooden fences.
  • Remove holiday lights that may still be hanging.
  • Paint exterior window sashes, trim, and shutters (repainting the entire exterior can be an expensive and unnecessary venture — unless there is bad blistering or peeling.)
  • Buy a new welcome mat.
  • Place potted flowers near the door.
  • Clean windows inside and out.
  • Power wash the home’s exterior.
  • Ensure gutters and downspouts are firmly attached and functioning.

Interior Tips
When showing your home to prospective buyers you want to make everything look spacious, organized, bright, warm, and “homey.” Start with a full housecleaning from top to bottom.
Don’t let dirt and clutter obscure your home’s good points. A clean home will sell a lot faster than a dirty one.
  • Be sure walls are clean and free of dirt and fingerprints — consider a fresh coat of paint if washing doesn’t do the trick.
  • Wash all windows and sills.
  • Curtains and drapes should be freshly cleaned.
  • Arrange furniture to make rooms appear spacious and attractive.
  • 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 the items off-site.
  • Clean all light fixtures and ceiling fans Have carpets cleaned
  • Make minor repairs
  • Replace any burned out light bulbs. You can make rooms seem warmer and brighter by using high intensity light bulbs that give the house a warm glow .
  • Discard or replace any dying houseplants. 
For more helpful information and our complete comprehensive list of home preparation tips, download our exclusive Seller's Guide Here for Free!