Preparing Your Home For Sale

Most homes need just a little sprucing up in order to look their best in a market where buyers often shop one house vs. another. To have your house stand out above the rest and sell for its highest value consider the following:

• A buyer's first impression of your home is usually at curbside. Make sure that your landscaping, driveway, and walkway are well maintained and easily accessible. Fresh mulch and pruned shrubs go a long way to present an inviting and valuable look to your property. All exterior walks and stairways should be clean and in good/safe condition. Loose bricks and mortar commonly found on worn stairs should be repaired by a mason prior to use by buyers.
  
  
• Walk the exterior of your house and check the condition of paint or siding. Even houses with "no maintenance" siding sometimes need a cleaning. If you have wood siding and trim, make sure that painted surfaces still have an even, protective coat of paint.
  
  
• Check your roof. If your roofing material may need repair or replacement if it has reached it's expected life, you may want to factor repair or replacement into your sale price, or do the necessary work prior to sale.

• Have a chimney sweep clean and inspect your chimney. Chimneys are often overlooked and are assumed to need little or no maintenance, but chimneys often need regular repair to mortar and cleaning for safe operation.
  
  
• Have your heating system serviced and inspected by a heating contractor who will write a report or receipt showing that it has recently been cleaned and certified as being in good condition.
  
   
• Check to see that all kitchen appliances are in good working order. Buyers often inspect the condition or appliances as an important part of the sale.
  
  
• Replace, repair, or renovate any damaged or worn flooring. If you chose to make necessary renovations to flooring, be prepared to adjust your price in consideration of obvious conditions.
  
  
• Check your light bulbs. Make sure that all lights turn on and off for easy viewing of all areas of your home. Buyers want to be able to see everything, including attics and basements, so make sure all areas are as well lit as possible.
  
  
• Make any repairs to plumbing or electrical services as needed before defects are found by a buyer.
  
  
• Consider having your house professionally inspected by a local home inspection company as part of your presale check list. Many homeowners deal with unknown problems and defects after they are discovered by a buyer's home inspector. Having your home inspected prior to sale will allow you to repair any unknown items before they become an issue that may undermine your highest sale value. In addition, you can use the positive results of a home inspection as a marketing tool to show the true value of your home in comparison to others in your market.