MAKING A FIRST IMPRESSION

A house that sparkles on the surface will sell faster than its "shabby" neighbor, even if both are structurally well maintained. A "well dressed"house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price.When preparing your home for the market,spend as little money as possible. Buyers will beimpressed by a brand new roof, but they aren'tlikely to give you extra money to pay for it. Aswell as, an appraiser won't add more to thevalue of the home because they expect it tohave a roof, new or not. There is a big differencebetween making minor and inexpensivepolishes and touch-ups to your house. Such as,putting new knobs on cabinets or a fresh coatof neutral paint in the living room isrecommended before doing extensive andcostly renovations like installing a new kitchen

Luckily, your agent is a certified stager and interior decorator and can give you recommendations on how to present your home

Staging is another way to put the finishing touches on a home and help itlook spacious but still inviting. Once you have gone through this list, we candiscuss ideas for staging

Depersonalizing and de-cluttering can be the most difficult part of sellingyour home, but it is often the most important thing, next to pricing itcorrectly. Buyers tend to have specific tastes, and whether it's modern,traditional or shabby chic - they are drawn to it. Remove any items thatreflect your personal tastes so that the buyer can imagine themselves andtheir things in each room. You want the buyer to embrace your house as theirfuture home. I also want you to take your emotion out of it and think of it as aproduct you are selling. You will have a new home soon to personalize allyour own. This process will also give you a jump-start on your packing.Don't let this list overwhelm you. Enlist some friends and family or hire someprofessionals for cleaning and lawn service. Own way too much stuff, butcan't commit to purge? Rent a storage unit to hold the extra furniture youwon't need until your move.

SELLERS BEWARE. THE MOST COMMON ITEMS FOUNDIN AN INSPECTION REPORT

Sellers should not try to hide defects in the home. Most often buyers will pay tohave your home inspected. Inspectors will find these defects and couldpotentially cause the buyer to walk away from the purchase contract.

HERE ARE SOME COMMON ITEMS THAT BUYERS ASK TO BE REPAIRED:

Broken or cracked window panes and seals
Window screens missing or can't find the extras in the house
Do It Yourself jobs not done to code
Water spots on the ceilings
Dripping faucets
Un-maintained furnace filters
Dirty or damaged gutters
Faulty GFCI outlets

It is always better to fix these minor issues before the inspection to give thebuyer a feeling of comfort that your home has been maintained.

EXTERIOR ITEMS

Remove all garbage cans, wood scraps or building materials, etc
Make repairs to fences and paint, if needed
Stain or paint front door to fix dings or dents (first impressions!)
Make sure the front door is in working order.
Make sure keys work well and door is easy to lock/unlock.
Clean off any exterior residue on the outside of the house.
Check to see if paint needs touch-ups or caulking updates.
Remove any dead plants. Weed and prune.
Keep your lawn manicured and watered.
Sweep all walkways, patios and decks.
Add some potted flowers on the porch, if weather permits.
Clean pool and maintain chemicals.
Plan for kid's outdoor toys to be put away for showings.
Sweep out and organize garage.
Arrange garage tools and clutter in bins.
Store RV's and old cars elsewhere while house is on the market.
Consider pre-inspecting the home.
Curb appeal can seal the deal.

HERE ARE SOME GUIDELINES TO DRESS YOUR HOME FOR SUCCESSAND GET IT SOLD:

GENERAL ITEMS

Clean every room and remove clutter for a brighter look.
Find or rent a storage unit for items in more crowded rooms.
Repaint soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade.
Remove wallpaper and fix walls if necessary.
Repair cracks, leaks, holes and any signs of dampness.
Prime and paint any areas that have water stains.
Spruce up any stained cabinets with new hardware and Liquid Gold.
Organize closets and remove items from the floor.
Fix squeaky doors.
Remove family photos throughout your home and patch holes.
Remove or place any high value items, weapons or jewelry in a safe.
Pack up figurines or breakables.
Clean and dust ceiling fans and light fixtures.
Clean windows inside and out (winter inside only).
Leave screens off of the front windows.
Clean all A/C vents and intake grids. Replace or clean filters.
Rearrange furniture or move furniture to make room look larger.
Clean all flooring professionally (if needed), scrub tile and grout.
Empty garbage daily. "If we can smell it we can't sell it."
Clean walls and doors of smudges and scuff marks, or touch up trim.
Buy new towels for kitchens and baths for display during showings.
Make sure blinds and drapes are working to open for lighting.
Check that all lights work.
Add lighting or lamps to rooms with no overhead lighting/dark spaces.
Remove energy efficient bulbs and use maximum wattage bulbs.

KITCHEN

Clear all unnecessary objects from kitchen countertops.
Remove anything stuck to the refrigerator or cluttering the top of it.
Repair broken tile or loose corners on counters.
Clean stovetop and oven.Replace burner pans, if stained.
Polish kitchen sink. Keep clean and empty.
Keep garage disposal clear and deodorized.
Remove all soaps, sponges, etc., and keep out of sight under the sink.
Pack up all that old burnt pan and other items in the kitchen,not often used, to make room in cabinets for small kitchen appliances so counters are clear.

DINING ROOM

Remove any additional leaves in table to make room larger.
Clear off dining table but leave centerpiece (remove table cloth)

BATHROOMS

Clean all surfaces and put toiletries in drawers and cabinets
Leave out bottle of hand soap or clean bar of soap.
Make sure to leave out a clean hand towel.
Put out your new or fresh, neatly folded towels or hang on bars.
Clear all items out of shower stalls and tubs, except necessities.
Keep toilet lids closed (especially for showings).
Hide garbage can and cleaning supplies (toilet brush out of sight).
Clean shower curtain or replace if needed (neutral, like white).
Repair any cracking or peeling areas and clean any mildewed areas.
Paint if needed.
Give your tub or shower a fresh bead of silicone caulking to make it lookneat and clean, if needed.

BEDROOMS

Make beds daily and replace with neutral bedding, as needed(sometimes a comforter can be flipped over to a white or beige side).
Store extra books, magazines, or miscellaneous itemsunderneath the bed.
Keep closet doors closed. If you have a walk-in closet, keepthe floor clean and free of laundry and clutter.
Keep tops of dressers and night stands empty except for necessities(clock, phone and lamps).
Keep toys organized and in closed containers or toy box. This is a goodtime to purge and pack. It is like Christmas when the kids move andopen the boxes

DEN, FAMILY ROOM, LIVING ROOM, SUN ROOM

Clear off all coffee tables and end tables.Keep remotes, coasters, and magazines, etc., under table in a basket.
Remove any ashtrays.
Have a plan to remove pet beds and food bowls out of sight forshowings.
If carpeted, remove any scatter or extra rugs

LAUNDRY ROOM

Keep counters and sink clean and empty.
Put soaps, towels, etc., in cupboards.
If using area to put pet in crate, put a note on the door to warn buyers.
Plan for a place to store litter box out in the garage for showings.