First impressions are everything when selling your home. It’s important to make sure that it is presented at its very best. If you’d like, we are happy to help you develop a plan of how to best prepare your house for maximum salability. In addition, it is important to understand the condition of the major systems of your home in order to avoid issues during the the closing process. Try to disassociate yourself from your home, step back and ask yourself the question, “What would my opinion be of this property if I was shopping for a new home?” Below are some items to consider to help buyers put your home at the top of their want list.
- Work on Curb and Lakefront Appeal:
- The front door is the first thing that people see. A fresh coat of paint and a few planters or nicely kept flowerpots can do wonders for buyers’ first impression of your home. Keep in mind that for lakefront homes, the lakeside of the home is as important or more important that the street side.
- Maintain the landscaping. Fertilize the Lawn, eliminate any weeds, and keep it neatly mowed. A fresh coat of mulch makes everything look fresh.
- Consider pressure washing the outside of the home including decks and walkways and the dock to remove any unsightly dirt or moss.
- Paint any areas with chipped or faded paint.
- If your property is a waterfront home, are there opportunities to enhance the view of the lake by trimming up limbs on trees? In our experience, this is one of the areas of best return on investment. Please be careful to not remove trees or vegetation within the project zone (below the 800 contour).
- Make Necessary Repairs: Sometimes it is difficult for a homeowner to identify needed repairs. If this is the case, consider getting a prelisting home inspection. A licensed home inspector can help you identify and prioritize items which should be resolved prior to placing your home on the market. By making the investment to identify and make key repairs, you will benefit through a higher sales price and by having a more comfortable purchaser throughout the process making the transaction and closing process proceed more smoothly. Consider taking care of these simple items that are commonly flagged during inspections or that obviously detract from the impression of the home being well cared for.:
- Patch any holes in walls left from removing pictures. Paint any scuffed walls and change colors to more neutral tones as necessary to appeal to a larger audience.
- Repair any leaking faucets and clear slow drains.
- Change HVAC system filters. Clean dryer vent screens and duct.
- Replace all burnt out lightbulbs. Make sure all switch plates and plug plates are installed and not damaged.
- Replace any fogged or cracked glass windows or doors.
- Replace missing or damaged siding.
- Screw down any lifted deck boards and replace any damaged ones.
- Touch up caulk around tubs and sinks as necessary.
- Ensure all doors properly close, latch/lock and that weather stripping to outside doors is in good condition.
- Depersonalize: Your want potential purchasers to imagine their family living in the home. Pictures of your family should be limited as well as family heirloom items. If any fixture is something that you plan to take with you, consider removing and replacing it prior to listing the home.
- Clean & Declutter: This actually will give you the added benefit of getting a head start on packing and getting ready to move.
- Clean everything off the kitchen counters. Store all small appliances.
- Reduce the number of books and knicknacks on furniture and shelves.
- Remove excess clothes and other items from closets so that it does not appear that the home has insufficient storage.
- Remove excess furniture. Homes typically show best with furniture, but too much furniture detracts from a homes flow and spaciousness. Consider removing oversized pieces that can make a room feel small.
- Potential purchasers almost always associate the cleanliness of a home with the level of maintenance it has had and overall condition. Consider hiring a professional cleaning crew to go through the interior from top to bottom as it will assuredly pay dividends. Include washing all windows inside and out and having carpets cleaned. The kitchen and bathrooms should be spotless.
