Making a GREAT first impression

In today’s age of consumerism, every buyer is comparative shopping. Making a small investment in time, money and effort in your home will give you a solid advantage over competing properties. Pay attention to detail now because first impressions count with buyers. You have one chance, and it starts with curb appeal.

Exterior Appearance:

• Keep lawns cut: An uncut lawn will make a buyer feel that other aspects of the home are neglected, which could lead to not wanting to see the home.
• Trim hedges and shrubs:  As with the lawn, this affects the curb appeal when neglected.
• Weed and edge gardens: What is the point of having a garden if it doesn’t add beauty to the home and yard? Freshen up the plants by taking off dead leaves and flowers, weeding the area, and adding some fresh mulch to give the garden a fresh feel.
• Clear driveway and clean up oil spills: Ensure the driveway is always clear of toys, bikes, trash cans, and other items.  If there is oil on the driveway, clean it with some solvent from an auto store or K-mart, then wash it so it is clean of all spills.
• Clean out the Garage: The garage should be viewed as a place to put a car, not a storage shed. When buyers see that the garage is used for storage, they will assume the home is too small and lacks storage. If the car is in the garage and the garage door is closed, it will free up your driveway, improving curb appeal.
• Touch-up paint: If the exterior of your home, garage, or other outbuilding needs paint or repair, do it before the home goes on the market. Again, first impressions are everything!

Maintenance:

• Repair leaking taps and toilets: If not, when a buyer is looking at the home for the first time and chooses to have an inspector check it out, these little things will be brought up and asked to be repaired. Addressing them now is better than later.
• Clean the furnace and filters, and if you have an Air Conditioner, do the same. This should be done as normal maintenance yearly to extend the life of these expensive items. The working conditions of these items will be a significant concern for any buyer.
• Tighten door knobs and latches: Double-check interior and exterior knobs and latches so that they are not loose and in good working order.
• Repair cracked plaster: If your home has plaster walls that need repair, you may want to consult a plaster expert for a price and have it professionally done.
• Clean and repair windows: Clean all windows and replace cracked or broken glass. If you have slider windows, ensure the tracks are clean and oiled to slide easily.
• Repair seals around tubs and basins: If necessary, you can purchase caulking at a Hardware store and replace and repair it where needed.
• Replace defective light bulbs: Ensure all bulbs are in working order if the home is shown when lights are needed.  Bathrooms and other smaller areas need to be well-lighted.
• Oil-squeaking doors: Check all the doors in the home, including the closets, for any squeaking. Use a little Oil to correct the squeaking.
• Repair squeaking floorboards: Repairing squeaking floorboards can be difficult, depending on what you have for floor coverings.  Call a professional flooring company if you do not want to attempt it yourself.

Squeaky Clean:

• Clean and freshen bathrooms. Kitchens and Bathrooms should be clean and spotless. Buyers will pay a lot of attention to these two rooms, and when clean and bright, they will make a great first impression.
• Clean fridge and stove (in and out):  Even if the appliances are not included in the sale, they should be clean and in perfect working order.  Odors come from a dirty stove or fridge and can leave a poor first impression.

Create Space:

• Clear halls and stairs of clutter:  Halls and stairs blocked by clutter will cause the buyer to feel the areas are small and may not be comfortable walking over items to get to another area of the home.  There is also a safety issue.
• Store surplus furniture:  This will make the rooms seem more spacious.  Avoid storing these items elsewhere in the home, garage or basement.  Renting a storage unit for unused items is worth the investment.  If these are not items you plan on moving, you may want to have a pre-sale garage sale.
• Clear Kitchen clutter off the counters and stovetop:  Buyers want a spacious kitchen that appears clean and fresh.  The stove top should never have items piled on it.  It not only looks like there is no counter space, but it also is not a safe practice.
• Remove empty boxes and containers:  These items should be placed in a storage unit until ready.

At the Front Door:

• Clean porch and foyer:  This is the first thing the buyer will see when entering your home.  Make sure the porch is free of clutter and swept clean of dirt, and (if you are in a snow or ice climate make sure it is shoveled and salted)  The foyer should be clean and is a good location for a small table with fresh flowers if there is room.
• Ensure door bell is in working order:  You will want to test your door bell and make sure it is working so you can hear it ring when a Buyer or Realtor comes to the door.
• Repair screen on door or other out door areas with screening:  All screens should be repaired before the home is on the market.  Screens help bring the outside indoors and many buyers want to be able to open windows and doors when the weather is nice.
• Fresh paint or varnish front door:  The front door is always the door to have a prospective buyer come in.  It should look inviting and have a fresh look to it.
• Repair door locks and key access:  Like the front door, this is what the buyer will see when entering the home.  If the door locks and hardware are not in good condition they should be replaced.  Make sure the key works easily in the lock if your home is going to be shown by Realtors.