Preparing Your Home To Sell, Outside | ||
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See Also: Preparing Your Home To Sell, Inside
Free & Easy Fix Ups
Think of your home's appearance as one of its form of advertising. You're ready to put your house on the market during a very challenging time in housing. However, if you put your house on the market without preparing it for sale, you may have a long wait for an offer. You also may not realize your home's greatest return on investment.
You don't have to turn your pockets inside out to get it ready to sell. Some outlay may be necessary for painting, cabinet doors or repairing broken fixtures or appliances.
There are, however, many fix ups that cost absolutely nothing - except a little time and elbow grease. These fix ups will make all the difference in whether or not your home makes the most of itself. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready to show itself off.
Outdoors
What real estate agents call "curb appeal" is the impact your house makes when seen from a car or the sidewalk. If the exterior of the house and the yard are tidy and well maintained, prospective purchasers walk in with a pleasant feeling of expectation that the interior will match up. There is usually a correlation between how the inside of the home is kept and how the outside is maintained. If the lawn is shaggy, the windows are dirty and the doorbell doesn't work, they will be on guard for problems inside.
- Spruce up all around the house. Keep lawn and shrubbery trimmed and free of bicycles and other clutter. Keep the garden beds weeded and mulched.
- Cut and rake the grass and water frequently enough to keep it green; fill and seed any bare patches. Make sure weeds are under control.
- Put a flowering pot on the front step and keep it watered and trimmed.
- Remove flaking paint and stucco from the steps, porch or deck, door, trim and storage sheds and re-paint thoroughly.
- Keep the lawn, driveway, and porch or deck clear of bikes, toys, gardening tools, flyers and other clutter.
- Clean off your outdoor furniture, remove any rust (or toss out the rusted item.)
- Clear out the garage of everything but cars. If yours is a two-car attic, throw out the excess.
- Straighten gutters, the fence - and other things that sag.
- Make sure the front door opens and shuts smoothly (and without squeaks) and the doorbell functions properly. .
- Wash windows frequently, and replace any cracked glass or thermo-panes that are fogged up.
- Tuck garbage containers out of sight.
As your neighborhood real estate specialists we can show you any home for sale in the area, or advise you on selling your home. Please feel free to call us or send us an email with your real estate questions. We are ready to help.
Next Home Selling Article: Marketing Your Home To Sell
