Getting Your House Ready To Put On The Market

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There’s never a more important time to pay attention to the details than when you’re getting your house ready to sell. It’s

a buyer’s market and there’s a lot of competition out there. To get the best price, you need to put your best foot forward.

Obviously, the house needs to be structurally sound.  If major repairs are needed, take care of those, or be prepared to adjust your price to reflect the work that a buyer will need to do.

Your real estate agent is a wonderful resource, and can tell you what kind of improvements will get the attention of buyers in your market.
In general, here are steps you can take to make a great first impression on prospective buyers.

Exterior
-Cut and water the grass regularly. If there are bare spots, fill them in. Trim foliage so the house can easily be seen. Weed flower beds and kill weeds in walkways.
-Pressure wash the exterior to get rid of dirt, stains or peeling paint. Repaint if needed.
-Clean and repair any damaged gutters, siding and shutters.
-Repair loose or damaged roof shingles.
-Put a fresh coat of paint on the front door.
-Put away any clutter in the yard, including toys, bikes and yard equipment. If there’s anything broken sitting in the yard, get rid of it. If you have a car that’s not running, or a boat or RV parked at the house, store it somewhere else while the house is on the market.
-Make sure the walkways and steps are free of any tripping hazards.
-Remove any ant beds, wasp nests and spider webs.
-Add some color with seasonal plants near the front door.
-Wash the windows.
-Update the light fixtures and house numbers.

Interior
-Paint. This is the cheapest, easiest way to give your house a fresh look. Remove outdated wallpaper and borders.
-Give the house a thorough cleaning, including flooring and window treatments, especially if you have pets. If you have smokers, take pictures and mirrors off the walls to see if the walls need cleaned.
-Eliminate clutter. This makes the house look bigger and more open. Put away toys, clean off the counters, take down clusters of family photos, pack up the knick-knacks, etc.
-Check the ceilings and walls for cracks, stains or signs of water damage.
-Repair any damage to wallpaper, walls, molding, tiles or flooring.
-Replace missing handles from cabinets. 
-Fix any leaking faucets, showerheads or toilets.
-Replace broken or cracked windows or doors.
-Replace outdated light fixtures and burned-out light bulbs.
-Repair damaged countertops.