Once a decision has been made to sell a home there will be several decisions to be made, precisely, just what to do to make the homestead look like it’s worth the big bucks you’ll be asking for it!

When faced with this challenge, there are two things that need to be addressed: sprucing up the place within a budget or really doing a job on it so that more money can be asked for the property. In this market you really can’t be sure if a buyer is purchasing a home for the property location or the house itself, so it may be best to stay within a budget and do the minor repairs that are begging to be addressed.

First and foremost, get the house looking attractive from the outside. The yard really needs to be kept up; it gives the first good impression. Trim the hedges and clean out the flower beds, maybe even put on some new mulch. Put out a pretty pot or two of flowers and make sure the walk doesn’t have weeds, the driveway as well. Mow the lawn and get rid of the dandelions; it will hint of neglect.

If the front door needs paint, slap on a coat and don’t make a mess. Wash the windows and make sure all the screens are intact; if they need a little repair, do it! It is inexpensive to replace screens and will make a big difference in the viewing.

If your kitchen is outdated some minor improvements may be needed, but don’t break the bank. Chances are a new buyer just may want to do a granite/island makeover, so be practical.

You really do not need to install a new kitchen, but the kitchen and baths must always be clean . They are the biggest selling points. The clutter needs to go. Paint is always a cheap fix. If the cabinets can be painted, sellers should paint them and they should put on new hardware. If the kitchen is really outdated sellers should get an estimate from a contractor and present that to a potential buyer, offering an allowance or telling them they’ll update the kitchen themselves.

When assessing your home for work to be done look critically at all rooms, walls, ceilings, carpet and floors. If painting needs to be done check closely to determine if a touch-up will suffice and make sure all the hardware is spotless; paint spatters are not pretty!

Also you should get all the carpets cleaned and if the floors underneath are hardwood get an estimate to see if it is worth pulling up the old carpet and sanding down the wood. Be sure all vinyl is clean and when showing the home, always vacuum and sweep first.

To make your rooms look attractive and larger then they really are, get rid of excess furniture and all those stacks of books you have yet to read. Box them up and put them in the attic, not the garage.

It is a good idea to see that the garage has room to park a car, Buyers like to envision their car in the garage, and it’s for a car, not storage. And make sure the basement is swept and dry, particularly at this time of year. Paint the walls with white water sealant. It’s cheap and easy to apply; the kids can help with that. Get a dehumidifier and keep it running.

If you have double pane windows that have broken seals and fog to match, replace them. Windows are expensive but they speak volumes, after all, they are the eyes that overlook the property. Window treatments should be attractive. If they are a little long in the tooth, simply get rid of them. A bare window is far more attractive than one that has old, flimsy lace curtains hanging from a crooked rod. And if the sills are showing the ravages of one too many rainstorms, sand them down and give them a coat of paint.

Attack the closets and cabinets. Do away with all excess items and make the areas look neat and spotless. Visitors will check out your personal space so be prepared for snooping; after all, a potential buyer wants to see it all. If there’s been a leak, the stains from the disaster should be painted and the problem fixed. A simple building inspection is going to reveal this imperfection, so take care of it.

When listing a home some people like to have an independent building inspection done so they are prepared to fix and deal with questions about possible flaws with the property.

Property should not be overpriced; it will get what is called ‘shopworn.’ A lot of times a seller won’t get a lower offer because the buyer doesn’t want to insult the seller… then the seller loses a possible sale.”

Most important, when preparing to list a property, do so with someone you trust and have found to have acceptable credentials. (Hopefully that would be me!) And don’t look back on your happy home. Look forward to and try to get excited about your new place, for it too will come to be your home, the place where you will happily hang your hat!

If you or someone you know could be helped by this info now or in the near future, well that’s just GREAT! Please call me when ever you or your friends and family have a real estate need. I’d love to help!