"All buyers start taking score the moment they drive up to your property.
Your job is to make sure they start giving your home points before they walk through the door!"
Ask yourself, is the outside presentation of your home attractive, maintained and inviting?
Is there color?
Does the house seem to have 'life" going on around it?
Would YOU want to tour YOUR own open house?
... If not, then here are some ideas to consider:
· Use plants, modernized lighting fixtures, benches and stone walk ways to dress your home's appeal.
· Whenever possible, you REALLY DO want your house to appear as if it has been freshly painted. (Front door and all trim included!) As the old saying goes, "A little bit of paint can hide a multitude of sins!" Who ever came up with that clever little line was absolutely right! Because painting is actually one of the least expensive and most impressive major improvements you can make to a home. So, if your house shows for ware, definitely plan on repainting it an inviting color. (And if you want to use a new or different paint color *other than the original* check with your home owner's association first to make sure everyone is on the same page, should that situation apply to you.)
· Consider renting (or buying) a pressure washer to clean the dirt off the front of your house, the porch, your side walks and oil stains on the driveway. You will be amazed at how much this can help the look of your property! If stains are stubborn, try some oxy clean or other alternative recommended by your local hardware store. NOTE: Please keep in mind that some pressure washers can be very dangerous if they are not used correctly. If the pressure setting is not properly monitored the device can actualy damage your property or even wound you (or someone else.) So be smart as you clean ... and be careful!
· Before your home goes on the market, remove all trash, debris or clutter from your yard. Nothing will keep a prospective buyer from coming into your home like seeing clutter in a yard, as he or she will imagine that your house looks the same inside. Ask your self honestly, what do you want more, junk in your yard or cash in your pocket?
· Make sure the lawn is properly maintained. If keeping up with your yard is too difficult for you, hire a lawn crew weekly! This is definitely worth the money as a neat looking yard (freshly trimmed) will greatly add to the curb appeal of your home.
· Keep your front porch light(s) on at night, making sure that your home and yard FOR SALE sign is always illuminated. The majority of all drive-by interest usually happens in the evening. Not when people are speeding off to work or back home to see about the kids and make dinner!
· I know this may sound funny, but keep your cars washed and clean inside! Buyers can be very discriminating people who tend to look for clues EVERYWHERE as to how you might have *really* treated your property before you *dressed* it all up. (And if you think potential buyers' are not looking closely into your closets, laundry rooms, bath tubs, water closets, attics and garages ... think again!)
· Put fresh grass/sod down over blank or muddy patches in the yard.
(Make sure that the sod is placed evenly with the rest of the grass.)
· Fill in all holes before you sod over them.
· Seek to repair loose or broken siding.
· Replace missing or overly discolored roof shingles.
· Repair damaged driveway and curb.
· Utilize pest control if there are ant beds or other unattractive insects present.
· Clear away spider's webs and wasp's nests.
· Create a flower bed and plant colorful hearty flowers (like marigolds or petunias outside) or get pre-potted flowers and place them on your front porch.
· Put down fresh mulch. (There is a cedar variety that has a muted red color that is quite attractive and actually repels insects!)
· Keep all weeds pulled.
· Invest in 2 or 4 hanging baskets (of lush green ferns or flower boxes) and distribute them evenly (in sets of 2) on the front of the house. This looks especially good on colonial style homes. (Oh and make sure the basket portion *if it is easily visible* is not cheap plastic, but an attractive holder.)
· Replace old plants, shrubs or trees that have died. No one wants to live at the house with the dead plants!
· Prune and cut back all overgrowth. Can you actually **see** your house?
You never want buyers dodging limbs or branches as they make their way to your door! And you don't want your home coming off as a "haunted house" as shrubs or vines cover up the window.
· Never EVER allow the evidence of animal waste to remain in your yard! If there are pet urine odors, be sure to wash the area down with water. Also be aware that there are many effective urine/scent remover products on the market today that are environment friendly. Just do a search online and you will see.
· If you have a pool, make sure it is kept perfectly clean and clear of all leaves.
· Also, when showing your property at night, make sure the pool lights are all working and turned on. You also want all water features (if you have them) operational and running while the property is being shown. Purchase an extra large wicker basket (that you might fill with magazines or books) and fill it with clean, rolled up white fluffy towels and put them near the pool.
· Dress up your back yard environment with attractive patio furniture and colorful matching pillows, designed for outside use. This will help the buyer notice your home's entertainment value. Planting a seed in their mind that this just might be a home they could have "fun" and actually LIVE in!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.
The door is always open!
Christian
© 2007 Christian Andréason