Getting Your Home Ready for Sale

How do I get the house ready for sale?

ANSWER:

The best thing to do first is to inspect your home from top to bottom, looking at it as though you were a buyer.  Make a list of everything that needs cleaned up or repaired, then do everything on your list!  That means taking care of any major repairs that could deter a buyer (such as replacing any broken windows or replacing a leaky roof) if you can afford it. Next, look at the outside of your home and also at your yard.  Make sure your landscape is pristine. Mow the grass, clean up any debris and weed the garden beds. Plant a few annual flowers near the entrance or in pots to be placed by the door.

Other quick fixes that don't cost a lot of money but can help you get top dollar for your home:

• Clean the windows.  Clean windows make a house look newer and cared for.  Also, make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking.
• Clean and freshen up rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. Make sure that bathrooms and kitchens are spotless.
• Organize closets and make sure that clothes are not on the floor, and that nothing will fall out when doors are opened.
• Make sure the basic appliances and fixtures work. Replace leaky faucets and frayed cords.
• Eliminate the source of any bad smells, such as the kitty box, musty basements, or cigarette smoke. Use air freshener or bake a batch of cookies before your open house to ensure that the house smells inviting.
• Invest in a couple of vases of fresh flowers to place around the house and next to any information about the house you have prepared for buyers.