COLUMN OF KNOWLEDGE

How To Prepare Your House to Sell

By Maria and Joe Lane
Selling your house is one of the most important financial transactions you will make. You want to sell it for as much as you can get, as quickly as possible, and with the least amount of inconvenience. Here is a handy checklist of things to do to help you get the best result for you and your family:

• First impressions are vital. Make sure your lawn is mowed and neatly landscaped, and free of leaves and dead branches. Add color by planting extra flowers or putting pots of flowers by doors. Store lawn equipment, and neatly arrange outdoor items like firewood or outdoor furniture. Repair broken areas and paint or stain spots in poor condition. Walks should be swept, and in winter, ice and snow should be removed from the walk, steps, and driveway.
• Check the roof for shingles or flashing that may need replacing. Clean out gutters, use touch-up paint, reattach, or realign if crooked. Check surfaces such as siding, window sashes, trim, and shutters. Consider painting your front door and make certain that your storm or screen door is clean and polished. Fix broken windows and screens, and replace faded house numbers with shiny new, brass ones. If needed, repaint or replace the mailbox. The doorbell should be in working order.
• Decorating for a faster sale. Faded and marked walls, worn woodwork, and stained or thin carpeting reduce the appeal of your house and the price you receive. Instead, do a reasonable amount of redecorating. An investment in paint, carpet, and wallpaper in neutral tones pays bigger dividends to you in the form of a better price and a faster sale. White, off-white, or beige walls make a room look bigger and lighter and are more likely to go with buyers’ furnishings. Your kitchen should sparkle. Keep counter tops as clean as possible, and make sure cabinets and cupboards are orderly. Store or discard unused items. Clean the oven and all appliances, and polish the chrome on the sink. Remove all photos, drawings, and notes from the refrigerator.
• Let the sun shine. Open drapes and curtains when you have a showing and, clean windows so buyers can see how bright and cheerful your house is. No matter what the season, do your spring cleaning. Launder, dry clean, or replace curtains and draperies if needed.
• Make minor plumbing repairs. Fix leaky faucets. Dripping water suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing and major repair bills. Clean discolored or rust-stained sinks.
• Little things mean a lot. Loose door knobs, cabinet pulls, or towel racks, sticking doors and drawers, wobbly hinges, stuck windows, squeaky floors, shaky banisters or other minor items are all negative factors. Replace cracked switch plates and outlet covers.
• Safety first. Keep stairways and corridors clear of clutter. Besides being unattractive, clutter can cause accidents.
• Top to bottom. Let buyers see the full space and value of your attic, basement, and garage as well as storage and utility spaces by removing unused items, cartons, and other articles. Stack cartons and arrange items remaining in the spaces in an orderly fashion. A coat of paint and extra lighting can do wonders for dark and dreary storage spaces. Also consider storing extra items at a friend’s house or at a storage facility.
• Love big closets. Everyone loves large closets. You can make your closets look even bigger by keeping them clean, neat, well organized, and well lighted.
• Bathrooms sell homes. Make your bathrooms sparkle. Clean stained sinks and bowls, repair damaged or discolored caulking around bathtubs and showers, and clean tile until it shines. Replace towels, rugs, and drapes if needed to give an updated look. Make certain that all light fixtures and bulbs work properly.
• Wake up your bedrooms. Keep bedrooms bright and cheerful. Remove excess furniture to give them a spacious feeling.
• See the light. Light in your house can be a welcome sign for every buyer. When showing your house late in the afternoon and evening, turn on all exterior and interior lights, including closets, accent and picture lights.
• Avoid crowds. Potential buyers will feel like intruders and want to rush through with the showing if too many people are around. Send the children to the neighbors to play, or take them for a walk while you are having a showing.
• Silence is golden. During a showing, turn off the television and radios. Let the sales agent and buyers talk freely without having to shout to be heard. Soft classical or light classical music in the background is acceptable.
• Control your pets. Keep all pets out of the way when buyers are looking at your home. Make arrangements with a neighbor or take pets for a walk at this time. If no one is home during the day, place a pet in a crate in the basement, garage, or extra room with a sign indicating that the pet is in the room, and the door should be kept closed.
• A showing is not a social call. Be courteous and friendly to buyers and the sales agent, but don’t try to force conversation. Let the sales agent do the talking.
• Stay in the background. The sales agent knows what buyers are looking for and can best describe and emphasize the features of your house. It is best not to be present for the showing. If you must be at home, greet the buyers and tell them that if they have any questions you will be outside or in a specific area of the home. Do not tag along.
• There is no place like home. Strive to keep your house neat and clean. Make the beds each morning and put away all dirty dishes. You live in your home, so do not apologize for normal activity or its appearance.
• A showing is not a garage sale. Do not try to sell furniture or furnishings you do not want to potential buyers. These details are best left until after the sales agreement is signed, and contingencies have been met.
  

Following these guidelines will help to foster greater interest in your home and move the sales process along to your satisfaction.