We know there's lots to do when Preparing For A Move. Much of the time, the real estate question comes into the equation. Selling a home is a major part of a move. If part of your moving plans include selling your home, you'll already be aware of the additional tasks that need to be done before you even begin to pack.
The best advice I can give is to look at your house as though it were already no longer yours. To borrow a quote from Michael Corleone, "It's not personal, it's business". View the house from the eye of a buyer instead of from your own personal perspective because your emotional attachment and preference for the home (that's no longer yours) often makes it more difficult to make the necessary changes to facilitate a sale.
Although Preparing The House Interior is very important as well, it is the exterior appearance of a house that's going to show up in advertisement pictures, as well as what someone viewing the home will first see. It is often what lures a potential buyer in. Curb appeal is definitely one of the main attractions of any house. Prepare that well, and you get that potential buyer through the front door.
Here are a few tips and suggestions I have from the professionals to help you achieve the best curb appeal.
- Clean up the front and back yards. Remove toys, rake leaves and do away with any dead shrubs and trees. If you have a rusty mailbox or the garden gnome is looking a little worn, either replace, repaint, or remove these items. Remember not to be penny wise pound foolish. A small investment in a new mailbox is nothing when you are talking about the amount you'll receive from a house sale.
- Touch up the exterior with a little paint. If you have the time and money, and your home is made from painted material, a fresh coat of paint will help make your house bright and attractive. If you don't have the time or money, at the very least add a new coat of paint to the window trim, railings or the front porch.
- Fix the fence. If the fence looks like it's seen too many winters, rain-soaked or sun-baked days, give it new life with some paint and replace any broken pieces with new parts. A shabby fence gives the impression that the house has been neglected and we know that's not the case!
- Landscape the front yard. If it's spring, summer or fall, make sure leaves are raked, grass is mowed and gardens weeded. Plant some flowers, add a container garden to the front stoop or steps. A well-kept and pretty garden can be a real selling feature. My sister and her husband bought an otherwise ordinary-looking house simply because they were enchanted by the gorgeous garden (They actually had people calling it the enchanted garden, it was so charming). And later, they sold it to someone whom the real estate agent claimed bought it mainly based on the beauty of the garden as well. But if the garden is not on show, and if you're selling your home in winter, then shovel the walk and remove snow from the front porch area so that your home can be seen from the street.
- Replace burnt-out bulbs. Check outside lights to make sure that they work and that any bulbs are replaced that need replacing. And while you're replacing the bulbs, clean the lighting fixtures as well.
- Wash the windows. Washing the windows until they shine makes for an inviting home and will help when potential buyers peek into the back yard from an upstairs window. Don't forget windows in the garage or shed, too.
Here are more tips for Preparing Your House For Sale.
