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Get Your Home Ready To Sell
In preparing your house to sell, ask yourself over and over if your house looks
like someone else's dream house. Houses in move-in condition tend to be inviting
to buyers; houses that are like new typically sell the fastest and procure the
best price.
With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when getting ready to sell:
Exterior
Remember the 60-second rule: that's all the time you have to create a good first
impression! Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and shrubs that keep light
out of the house and remove dead plants. Pick up tools, garbage cans, hoses,
toys, and building materials and store them neatly in a storage area. Replace
broken or missing roof shingles and straighten and clean the gutters and
downspouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Painting your house
helps improve curb appeal more than any other fix-up! If you decide against
painting the entire house, consider painting the front door, window frames
and shutters. Seal or resurface the driveway and repair broken steps and
walkways. Paint or replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the front
yard with some simple landscaping.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Step back for a moment and look at your home as if you were seeing it for
the first time. Every room should be spotlessly clean, dusted and
uncluttered. Steam clean the carpets and wax the floors. Wash the walls,
windows and light fixtures. Tighten loose stair railings and clean all
woodwork. In the event that you feel a project of this magnitude is
better left to a professional, ask your real estate agent to recommend
a cleaning service.
Entryway
Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill the
house with a pleasant aroma, such as berries in the summer or cinnamon
in the winter.
Living Room
Replace the carpet if it's worn. It costs money, but you may find that
you will more than recoup that cost when the home sells. Patch cracks
and nail holes in the walls, and repaint walls in neutral colors, such
as white or ivory. Nail down creaking boards and stair treads. Lubricate
any sticking or squeaking doors. Open all curtains, and replace them if
they are getting old. Add lamps and lighting if the house is dark. Set
out fresh flowers.
Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious.
Too much furniture and too many knick-knacks make rooms look cluttered
and small. One or two decorative items per surface are plenty, so pack
the rest away.
Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should sparkle! Clear off counters, and clean all appliances
and fixtures. Scrub the floors and walls. Re-caulk tubs and showers.
Clean these rooms thoroughly, and be sure they smell fresh.
Closets
Take those things to Goodwill that you'll have to discard anyway when
you move. Organize shelves and straighten shoes. Be sure that sliding
doors operate smoothly and knobs on drawers are secure.
Utility Room
Dust and wash the washer, dryer and water heater.
Light and Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace wallpaper with
white or off-white paint, and repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the
blinds, and replace broken windows and window seals. Always maintain
a comfortable temperature inside the house, even if you are away for
an extended period of time.
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