Preparing your Home for Sale
Making sure your home ’shows well’ can speed the selling process and get you a higher sale price. Here are a few tips to increase your homes appeal.
Interior Areas
* Remove clutter and knick-knacks from your house. Organize your storage areas and consider putting extra items and boxes in storage. This will make your home seem bigger.
* Fix damaged flooring or tiles. Clean dirty carpeting. If the carpeting is very worn or damaged, consider removing it, especially if there is a wood floor (in good condition) underneath.
* Fill or repair any cracks or holes in the wall.
* Paint the interior using neutral or cheerful colors. Remove old, dingy , or patterned wallpaper. Wallpaper may be painted over in some cases.
* Fix or replace old squeaky doors. Make sure locks and doorknobs work.
* Repair leaky faucets, slow drains, & other plumbing problems.
* Have your furnace and water-heater inspected. Get a certificate showing them to be in good working order.
* Add some fresh flowers or a bowl of fruit to your rooms, before showing your home.
Exterior Areas
* Clean up yard debris and leaves. Trim back overgrown bushes and foliage.
* Repair broken deck boards, and reseal the deck- if needed.
* Replace cracked winfows and torn window-screens.
* Touch-up paint around windows, shutters, and porches if needed. Repaint exterior of house if needed.
* Clean gutters. Replace any broken or missing gutters and down-spouts.
* Repair or replace any loose or missing roof shingles. A new roof may be in order. (adjust home price accordingly).