As a seller, you need to understand that purchasing a home is an emotional process for the buyer.  A potential buyer is much more likely to purchase a well-priced home that feels right rather than a bargain home that doesn't show well.  There's nothing more important than making a great first impression on potential buyers.  Below is a list of tips to help you prepare your home so that it makes a great first impression.  Remember, a home that shows well is a home that sells well!

Enhance the Curb Appeal
The outside of your house is the first thing a buyer sees, so you want to make sure it is tidy, fresh, and welcoming.  Here's what you can do to help enhance your home's curb appeal:

• Keep the grass well-watered and mowed
• Have your trees trimmed
• Keep garage doors closed
• Clean the gutters
• Store toys and gardening equipment somewhere other than the front yard
• Turn on exterior lights at night and consider accent lighting or walkway lights if your house is in a higher-traffic area
• Cut back overgrowth (especially in front of windows)
• Keep leaves out of the yard and off of the porch
• Kill mold and mildew on the siding, roof, sidewalks and driveway
• Pressure wash dirty driveways, decks, and patios
• Depending on what you can afford, re-paint the following:
• Entire front of house, front door and trim
• Front door and trim
• Front door
• Check steps, walkways, walls, and patios for cracks and crumbling
• Add shutters around the windows that face the street

Clean and De-Clutter the Interior
It's hard for someone to purchase a home if they can't actually see it.  Buyers will feel much better about a home that looks spacious and clean.  Here are some tips that are vitally important to a successful sale:

• If you have too much furniture, rent a storage unit and put the excess there
• De-clutter closets, attic, and basement spaces
• Keep counter tops clear
• Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink or dish drainer
• Have carpets professionally cleaned (or replace them if absolutely necessary)
• Clean ash out of wood-burning fireplaces
• Consider hiring a professional cleaning service to come once a week

Follow Your Nose
Some people have a very keen sense of smell and if your house has bad odors, then you have a problem in need of a solution.  Follow these guidelines to help fix problem areas:

• If you have a pet, bathe it 
• If you smoke, stop smoking in your house and consider purchasing an air purifier or ionizer
• Clean the cat litter box frequently
• Refrain from cooking fish or other strong smelling foods
• Dry clean your drapes
• Add flowers or potpourri to different rooms in your home

Budget Yourself
When preparing for these repairs, try to spend as little money as possible.  Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but it's unlikely you will earn back what you spent to put the roof on the house.  Make sure you understand the difference between minor polishes/repairs and major renovations.   Contact Scott for further advice on what you should do to prepare your house to sell.