Record-Eagle,  November 18, 2006                    Cookie McCullough

Tips That Will Help With the Sale!

There are some tasks any seller should consider before putting their house on the market. As with any resale product, you should try to make the product (your home) look as new as possible in order to receive the highest profit available.

Don’t be a seller who, with a showing of your home scheduled, fails to freshly clean, leaves dirty underwear lying around, dishes in the sink and toys on the walkway. Selling “as is” does not mean you should ignore keeping up your home for sale – soap, water and de-cluttering could mean more money in your pocket.

With any house that goes on the market there are several things that should (I should say “must”) be done – to help with the sale.

1. All homes should receive a deep cleaning. Have the inside of your home as spotless and spacious as possible. Clean rugs and carpets, wax your floors. Have kitchens and baths sparkling clean! No leaky faucets. Remove clutter from countertops. Get rid of stains in sinks, toilets, and tubs. Replace caulking around tubs and showers if needed. Make sure all windows are clean, inside and out. Replace bad screens or cracked window panes. Get rid of cobwebs. Clean your stove, oven and refrigerator.

2. Declutter the house. Rent a storage unit - fill it with excess and/or raggedy furniture, boxes of knick-knacks, toys that are no longer being used, clothes that over crowd closets, garage junk, etc. Rearrange the furniture so that the rooms appear larger and more spacious. Remove family pictures, all personal objects, refrigerator “photos” and magnets.

3. Repair and paint where needed. Make sure your walls and ceilings are free of smudges, dents, or cracks. Check your woodwork and wallpaper carefully and repair if necessary. Don’t neglect little repairs like loose doorknobs, sticking doors or windows, and warped drawers. Tighten loose banisters and make sure steps are clutter free. Make sure all light fixtures and sockets work. Replace switch plates that are cracked or discolored.

4. Landscaping. Clean up your yard. Clear all debris and trim shrubs. Pull the weeds from between the cracks. Wash the driveway and sidewalk. If necessary, patch the crumbled and cracked spots with a cement patch. Add mulch and flowering plants if needed. Fresh, flowering plants (even in fall and winter) can make a house look so much better. Re-paint and repair fences and gates.

Even if you are selling “as-is”, the above tips are a must. If you have a little money to invest in your “investment”, the following suggestions will help with the sale.

1. Painting rooms is one of the least expensive investments for your home. Updating the traditional neutral walls with renewed color (not too bold) can make a “nice” house into a “wow” house. This is also one of the easiest “do it yourself” fixes.

2. New flooring is one of the best moderately priced upgrades a seller can install to make a huge difference. Offering buyers an allowance for carpeting gives the impression that you’re not interested in fixing up the house now and allows them to walk through your tattered and stained carpeting. Not a very good first impression of your home.

3. Sometimes replacing certain items in the house is really more like maintaining your home instead of upgrading it. Windows, doors, light fixtures, faucets, door hardware – all need upgrading periodically. This can be done on a budget and can make a world of difference in the appearance of your home.

Finally, at some point you have to check to see what the neighbors are doing with their home. If everyone is installing new kitchens, baths, carpets, doors, etc. then you may be forced to do the same thing. Why not do these upgrades before you even consider selling your home. Try to put yourself in the place of someone who has never seen your house before, and walk through looking at it in that way.

While you will want to repair, paint, remodel, and add to the beauty of your home because it adds value, every homeowner should do it so they can enjoy the changes as well.

Good Luck Selling Your Home!