• Be sure your lawn and shrubs are kept trimmed at all times.
• keep the garage doors down at all times.
• For color, have seasonal flowers in pots or beds.
• Make sure your driveway is in good repair. Pressure wash it to remove stains.
• Make sure patios and decks are clean and in good repair. Replace rotten wood and nail down loose boards.
• Time for a garage sale! Clear out everything you don’t intend to keep and tidy up what is staying.
• Check railings and fencing to make sure it’s in good repair.
• Pay special attention to the area around your front door. Make sure your doorbell works, clean up cobwebs, debris, or leaves. Fresh paint on the door goes a long way.
• Check for broken windows or leaking seals on thermo pane windows; replace if necessary.
• Make sure all outdoor lighting is clean and shiny. It is especially important that the entrance of your home makes a good first impression.
• Check your mailbox. Is it straignt? Neatly trimmed around?
• From the mailbox, look back at your house. Does it look appealling? 

• Start at the door and walk through your house. Do your carpets need shampooing? Dust all ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• You are moving anyway , so go ahead and pack up everything you don’t need for the nect couple of months. A closet with just a few items creates an impression of abundant storage space.
• Thin out overcrowded rooms. Sparse furnishings make rooms look larger. Consider renting a storage facility to store excess.
• Check all light fixtures to make sure all the bulbs burn.
• Wash all windows and make sure when a buyer comes to view your home that all your drapes and blinds are open to let in more light.
• With a good degreaser, wipe down everything in the kitchen so it feels clean to the touch.
• Go through your kitchen cabinets and pantry to make sure they’re neat and tidy.
• Make sure your sinks are clean at all times and free of dirty dishes.
• Remove all excess items from your counters to give the impression of lots of work surface.
• Pleasing aromas add a more appealling atmosphere. Light a candle or a bowl of potpourri.
• Clean all light switch places by taking them off and washing with soap and water.
• Make sure the bathrooms are spotless at all times w/ fresh towels and all fixtures are shiny and scrubbed
• Check all faucets and shower heads to make sure they’re spotless and free of leaks and drips.
• Repaint interior rooms if needed with neutral colors.
• Dont forget your ceilings; they get stains too. Paint if needed.
• The more light you let into a roomthe bigger and more spacious the room will appear. When you leave for a showing, turn on the lights and open the curtains.
• Hang a mirror, this too, makes rooms look larger.
• Pack away and store out of season clothes. Straighten up your shoes with a cheap shoe rack.
• Check where ceilings and walls meet and clean cobwebs.
• If you have a pet make sure there are no odors. Let a neighbor do a sniff test. If you live with an odor everyday you become immune to it.
• It’s important that you leave the house for all showings. Buyers feel less inhibited if you’re not around and will usually take a closer look in closets and kitchen ca binets, as well as voice any objections that your agent can deal with.
• If you have several vehicles make sure the spot closest to the door buyers enter through is empty for them.

 

SETTING THE STAGE SELLS YOUR HOME

Making a good impression can mean the difference between receiving serious offers for you home or being subjected to months of lookie-loos dropping by but never buying.  How can you ensure that your home will make the best impression possible?

1. Focus on curb appeal.  The outside of your house can be the source of a very good first impression.  Keep the grass well-watered and mowed.  Plant some blooming flowers.  Store toys, bicycles, gardening equipment and the like out of sight.
2. Clear out the clutter.  If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded kitchen and bathroom countertops, and potential buyers won’t be able to see your home.
3. Use your nose.  Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely sensitive to offensive odors.  Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners.
4. Make all necessary repairs.  Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly.  Picky buyers definitely will notice and likely magnify—minor maintenance problems. These repairs may seem small, but left undone the can lead buyers to question if you’ve taken good care of your home.
5. Introduce lifestyle accessories and make your home as comfortable and attractive as possible.  Set the dining room table with your best dishes.  Put out your only-for-company towels.  Make up the spare bed.  Hang some fresh curtains.  Put some logs in the fireplace.  Use your imagination.
6. Get a buyer’s eye view.  Walk up to your home and pretend you’ve never seen it before.  What do you notice?  Does the home seem inviting?  Would you want to buy this home?  Your answer should be an enthusiastic yes!