Home Seller Guide

Get It Ready

Preparing your property to sell should not be taken lightly. Always remember there are thousands of new homes for sale and builders hire experts in order to sell their properties. Not only are you competing with new homes, you also are competing with other re-sale properties.

Clean Up
Look at your home as though you were seeing it for the first time. Is every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Are the windows clean? Would removing or rearranging furniture make the rooms look more spacious? Are closets tidy? Kitchens and baths are especially important:

Are appliances and fixtures clean, do they smell good, are counters clear? Clean your laundry room of dust and lint. Do your carpets need steam cleaning? Do it now and get the benefit of enhanced appearance to buyers.

Look at the exterior. Is there debris on your lot? Is your home painted? Are cars parked outside? If yes, can you move them temporarily? In summer, consider trimming bushes and mowing/whacking the native grass around your home. In winter, be sure your drive and walk to the front door are free of leaves.

Fix Up
Minor repairs help make your home more appealing and they prevent haggling during the home inspection after you are under contract with your buyers. Make sure there are knobs on doors and drawers where they should be. Tighten loose stair railings. Be sure closet doors operate smoothly in their tracks.

Repaint rooms that have soiled walls or dark colors. Consider repainting in off-white. Re-caulk tubs and showers. Patch holes, refinish wood floors, apply a polish to all natural wood, replace broken windows and windows with broken seals. Repair dog scratches on doors and woodwork, re-stain the exteriors and decks. The dollars and effort you spend on these items will repay you tenfold.

Pets
The presence and/or the odor of a pet should be avoided during showings. The barking of even a friendly dog can be the death knell to an otherwise successful showing. If you can remove your dog during showings, do so. If not, can you confine him or her to your garage or a dog run?

Cat and cat boxes may bring tears to the eyes of a surprisingly large number of buyers (due to allergies, not tender feelings). Be sure litter boxes are cleaned frequently.

Light Up
Bright interiors are paramount to today's buyers. Open drapes, install 100-watt light bulbs, leave lights on in dark areas. During winter months, maintain your home at a comfortable temperature even if you don't normally do so or if you are away for an extended period.

Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home
Make your home more appealing for potential buyers with these quick and easy tips.
1. Trim bushes so they don’t block windows and cut down on light.
2. Buy a new doormat.
3. Put a pot of bright flowers (or a small evergreen in winter) on your porch.
4. Put new doorknobs on your doors.
5. Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
6. Edge the grass around walks and trees.
7. Keep your garden tools out of site.
8. Be sure kids put away their toys.
9. Buy a new mailbox.
10. Upgrade the outside lighting.
11. Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.
12. Polish or replace your house numbers.
13. Clean your gutters.
14. Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.
15. Buy new pillows for the sofa.
16. Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently.
17. Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.
18. Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.
19. Buy new towels.