10 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU LIST YOUR HOME

You have decided to list your house. Frankly, you are tired of the maintenance and expense and are looking forward to something that requires less of you. Don't lose your motivation...you are not done yet!

Think of this as the last stretch to the finish line and once you cross, you can move on.

A well-prepared home presents as a well-maintained home. You think that potential buyers won't notice the little things? Think again!

The very best starting place is to have me stop by to see the property and we can decide what absolutely has to be done.
But, here are 10 things I tell suggest:

1. Have the HVAC serviced. Nearly every  inspection report recommends it and most sellers end up doing it anyway. Just get it done. It makes you look like you are really on top of the details.
2. Grout the tubs. Fresh grout looks fresh. Old grout looks old. Again, it looks like you are constantly doing maintenance if you deal with this.
3. Clean out the closets.  If it looks like you don't have enough storage, why would someone want to buy your inadequate house? Send your off-season clothes to the cleaners or Mom's house. Just make sure the closets are cleaned out.
4. Paint the stairways and hallways. Fresh paint makes everything look better and hallways and stairways often see the most traffic and wear.
5. Clean or replace the carpet. How long you have owned it and the level of quality will determine which one you need to do, but you need to do one or the other!
6. Clean up the landscaping. Besides planting flowers, evaluate how well those plants close to the house are doing. If they were installed by the builder, chances are they need to be moved. Builders plant for instant gratification; homeowners landscape for the long-term. Crowded plants that have been trimmed back look like crowded plants that have been trimmed back.
7. Seal the driveway. A fresh coat of driveway sealant looks really nice and inviting--and well maintained.
8. Clean the windows. People buy bright houses. Dirty windows look bad. Clean your windows and invite in the light!
9. Freshen up the Front Door. Paint it. Buy a new mat. Plant flowers in the planters. First impressions count for a lot when selling your house!
10. Clean out the garage.When someone first buys a house, they have fantasies of parking in the garage. Don't ruin it for them by showing that you are unable to park in the garage. Rent a storage unit or give the stuff away, but let the buyers believe that your garage is used to park cars.

This is not an exhaustive list, but it should get you started in preparing your home for sale. Remember, if you think something will be a pain to take care of, most buyers will view it the same way. No buyer wants to take on a lazy seller's home maintenance.
Prepare your home well and sell it quickly!

And remember .... CALL ME!