It doesn’t cost a fortune to make your home buyer ready. The first thing you need to do is step back and look at your home through buyer’s eyes.  Often as a  homeowner it is difficult to notice the flaws in your own property.  We all get used to living with the dripping faucet, the scuffed paint or the over loaded bookshelves.  By looking as objectively as possible at your property, you can decide what improvements need to be made to attain the maximum impact. Sometimes the smallest improvements can make a significant difference in a potential buyer’s perception of your home. As an agent I am able to see your home as a buyer will and can recommend how to show it in its best light.

               Setting the Stage

 The value of curb appeal is to get the buyers out of their car and up to your door.  If your are selling in the  spring or summer then you need to make sure the yard is green and mowed, the bushes trimmed and color plants are on hand.   If you are selling in the fall and winter then keeping the leaves or snow off the sidewalks and decks are key.  Not only does it make it nicer on the outside it also keeps potential buyers from tracking dirt inside as well.  If you have a busy schedule then sometimes the cost of a quick clean up by a landscape crew pays for itself through a faster sale  Make sure your door has a fresh coat of paint (if needed) and if your old mailbox has seen better days replace it.

            Stepping in the door

Alright you have done a good job and gotten the buyers out of their car and inside the door.  Now what?  The first to deal with is pets.  If you have them you need to make sure that all evidence of them is out of sight.  If you have a dog perhaps doggie day care is an option?  If not then you need to make sure that they are contained in an area that you can keep clean and smelling fresh.  With cats it can be harder to contain them but make sure you scoop the box every day.

Remove as many of the personal photos as you can, take half the books off the bookshelf, organize the kitchen cabinents and if you have a garage make sure you include it on the clean up list.   Let buyers visualize their own belongings in the house.  When you leave for the day turn on lights, even in the day time, makes your house appear more inviting, cheerful, and even spacious. A professional carpet cleaning can remove stains and odors that you may not notice but are immediately noticeable and often offensive to buyers who don’t smoke or own pets.

         Should You Make Repairs?

A quick coat of paint and other relatively affordable cosmetic upgrades might take years off a home’s appearance. A light neutral paint color has the broadest appeal and may also make rooms look larger. Will undertaking significant repairs prior to putting your home on the market generate the best return or will selling your home “As Is” at a lower price point be the best choice? I can help you with that decision.