40 Tips For A Faster Sale

DO THIS: Walk outside your home, go to the street, walk towards your home as though you've never been there, walk inside and go through the house as if you were a buyer....you'll be surprised at what you see. We 'live' with things in our homes, now is the time to STOP living with them, and fix or spruce them up!

Reduce clutter. Sort through closets, drawers, and storage areas. Toss what you can, organize the rest. If you have too much furniture in your home, making the rooms appear too small, put some pieces in storage to make a better first impression.
Clean! Not only should your home be spotless, it must be CLEAN. Apply elbow grease & strong cleansers to surfaces inside and outside your home. Clean the window sills. Consider painting if cleaning doesn't do the job. You'd be amazed where buyers look.
Sparkling windows are a signal to buyers that you care about your home. Clean your interior and exterior windows. Repair cracked panes, torn screens, broken sashes and ropes or cords. Whenever your home is being shown, open your curtains to let the light in, especially if the view is nice.
Make minor repairs. Tighten loose knobs, fix leaky faucets and discolored sinks, lubricate squeaky hinges, clean out clogged drains, replace filters, tighten loose banisters.
Arrange furniture to make each room appear larger.
Make sure all lighting fixtures work. Add new bulbs with the highest wattage allowed for each fixture to make your home seem brighter.
Appeal to the senses. Burn candles or potpourri, boil a pot of cinnamon sticks, or put a dab of vanilla on cold light bulbs before turning them on. If you have pets or if someone in your home smokes, the odors can linger and lessen your homes appeal. you might not notice these smells if you live with them every day, but an unchanged cat box or an ashtray filled with cigarette butts can mean your home will get no further attention.
Gussy up the front entrance. You never get a second chance to make a first impression, and this is where it all starts. A coat of paint on the door, brass accents such as house numbers, a door knob & a kick plate. Prune the bushes or shrubs and put blooming plants (in season) on the porch.
Make sure your doorbell works.
Paint. Light, neutral colors such as beige, white, off-white or gray have a broader appeal and can make small rooms seem larger and airier. If you have dated wallpaper, remove the paper and paint the walls. Caulk & fill nail holes before painting.
Repair a leaky roof and then paint over any water marks on the ceiling. DO NOT paint to HIDE a problem, always fix it then paint.
Repair a wet basement if possible. The problem can be as easy to fix as installing covers over window wells, or remembering to put the downspouts on your gutters. If the moisture problem calls for more extensive repairs and you are not able to make them, be prepared to explain the problem to a buyer. Don't try to cover up the signs of a wet basement.
Exterminate if necessary. One bug, dead or alive can make a bad impression on a prospective buyer.
Organize the kitchen. Clear off counter areas, add drawer organizers to suggest efficient use of space. Store seldom used small appliances and large baking pans.
Update the bath. If cleaning and painting can't make a dingy bath dynamite, consider replacing the vanity and sink, installing a new floor covering, or resurfacing a stained bathtub. Even a new shower curtain or toilet seat can work wonders.
If you have a deck, patio, porch or other outdoor entertainment area such as a pool or hot tub, make the most of them. Keep these areas, as well as your backyard, clean and clutter free, put debris in a covered trash can.
Install outdoor lighting that properly illuminates your entrances, walkways and drive. Turn on all outdoor lights when your home is being shown in the evening.
Give shutters a fresh coat of paint.
Buy a new doormat
Pick up tools and toys from the yard. Put garbage out of sight. Make sure the garage is swept.
Paint your mailbox.
Clean gutters and downspouts. Straighten and paint if needed.
Depending on the season, hose down the house, walkway and drive.
Repair cracks and pull weeds from walkways and drive.
Carpeting has a major impact on the look of your home. If yours is badly worn, outdated or stained, consider replacing it.
Hardwood floors add beauty and value to a home and deserve special attention.
Ask a friend to care for your pets or take them to a kennel when your home is being shown. Park your camper, boat or extra car at another location.
Buy or cut fresh flowers for a dramatic arrangement in any room.
Take a Picture! If you have photos of your home in all of the seasons, bring them out and let the buyers see them.
Edge between your lawn, drive & walkways.
Remove dead leaves, limbs, and other debris from the lawn.
Trim trees and hedges.
Put fresh mulch around trees, shrubs or hedges.
Put away all lawn equipment.
Make sure the exterior paint and siding are in good condition, and that the roof is in good repair.
Weed and cultivate flower gardens.
Repair fences and gates, and give them a fresh coat of paint if needed.
Mow your lawn! For more lushness, be sure to water, mow and fertilize it regularly. Remove dandelions and weeds that are visible. A good rule of thumb for mowing is to never cut off more than one-third of the blade at one time. For example, if the recommended height is 2 inches, mow when your grass is 3 inches. In the winter, make sure all walks and drives are shoveled and clear of snow & ice.
If you are an absentee seller, make arrangements for lawn care and snow removal.
Clean all curtains and draperies. Shampoo rugs & wax floors.

40 Tips for a Faster Sale!!