When you list your home with me, my goal is to get for you
the most amount of money, in the least amount of time, with
the least amount of inconvenience.
These low cost improvements will boost your homes appeal and
help it sell much quicker.
General Advice
Your home should be clean and tidy. Vacuum the carpets, clean
the windows and make your kitchen and bathroom shine.
Go out during a showing. Prospective buyers tend to stay longer
if owners are not home. They'll talk more freely and point
out what they like and what they don't like. Keep pets outdoors.
Curb Appeal
The first thing prospective buyers notice is appearance. How
attractive is the property? Is it well maintained? The more
appeal your house has from the outside, the more it will draw
people inside, I recommend you follow my tips to boost curb
appeal:
- Everything should be in good condition. If the eaves troughs
are falling off or the porch stairs are broken, fix them.
- Remove weeds from flower beds, trim shrubbery and tidy the
yard.
- Repair cracked or broken windows.
- Repaint a chipped front door or window trim. Keep in mind
that sloppy painting, whether interior or exterior, will not
go unnoticed. Do an excellent job yourself or hire a professional
painter.
- For an added touch I suggest edging the lawn and resealing
the driveway.
Put Out The Welcome Mat
The front entrance is the focal point of any residence.
It should be warm and inviting. These ideas will help you
make a favorable first impression:
- Add welcoming furniture such as a mirror; a small cabinet
or an umbrella stand.
- Wax sliders and oil all hinges on closets.Clean out the
front closet and remove the boot tray.
- Open all blinds and drapes and turn on the lights, especially
on dull days.
Basic Repairs
- Repaint all baseboards, and patch and re-paint any holes
in the walls. Stick with neutral tones. Use a lighter shade
for trim and a medium shade for walls.
- Buyers test hardware, so make sure latches work properly.
Fix shaky railings and repair all broken doors.
- Replace old
electrical wall plates and switch covers. Replace your
electrical switches in the dining room and living room
with dimmer switches.
- Consider
removing any worn and stained carpets if there's attractive
hardwood flooring underneath.
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Kitchen
Delights
- Remove tattered wallpaper; wash the glue off the wall
and then repaint it.
- Repair leaking faucets and remove any iron-rust stains
from the sink with a calcium-phosphate-removal product.
- If the cabinets are looking tired, paint them (melamine
paint works well). To update their look, replace cabinet
pulls and hardware with new ones.
- If your kitchen needs a facelift, consider replacing
old worn countertops and flooring. Prices vary, depending
on size and style. A basic countertop starts at about $15
a foot plus installation. Cushion flooring starts at about
$2 a square foot.
Bathroom
Duty
Nothing turns off a prospective buyer more
than a dirty bathroom.
- Clean all surfaces and bathroom fixtures until
they shine. Make storage space seem larger by clearing
out some items and neatly restacking what’s left. Don’t
forget to clean inside cabinets.
- Touch up minor chips or water stains in the
sink and tub with porcelain paint. For major water stains,
hire a professional to reglaze the tub, which costs $150 and
up.
- If caulking is stained with dirt and mildew,
replace it. If you're not adept at this job, hire a professional.
- Fix any plumbing problems; some buyers do
flush toilets and turn on taps.
- Use a special grout cleaner (available at
most hardware stores) to remove mildew from tiles.
- Replace cabinet pulls if your bathroom needs
a fresh look.
Basement Bargains
Basements are usually the last place to be checked, but they
can be key to giving potential buyers a good impression.
- Use a dehumidifier during the summer to reduce dampness and
mildew.
- Scrub the mildew off the walls, sweep the floor and get rid
of any cobwebs.
- Tidy up and neatly stack any storage boxes on shelves.
- A fresh coat of paint on the floor gives big bang for your
buck.
- Clean Out The Garage
- If your prospective buyer is looking for the ideal spot
for his or her hobby area, don’t be caught off guard
with a messy garage.
Here are some pointers:
- Add shelves to help organize the garage (prefabricated shelving
units work well).
- Grease the tracks on the garage door and fix all broken doors.
- Remove oil stains on the garage floor with an oil-absorbent
product.
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