Exterior The condition of your home's exterior is most important when it comes to buyer appeal. - House number should be easy to read - Lights on timers to ensure house is lit up after sunset - Eaves troughs, and down spouts in good repair - Garage/car port clean and tidy - Litter picked up - Cracked or broken window panes replaced - Doorbell and door hardware in good repair - Touch up trim paint on doors, window frames, fascia, etc. - Mow, edge and weed the lawn frequently until the home is sold. - Overgrown shrubbery should be cut back to show as much of the exterior as possible. - A low-cost investment in seasonal flowers or ground cover will add a personal touch. - Inspect the roof for necessary repairs and any visible broken shingles or tiles. - Stucco water stains can be repaired using a mild bleaching agent. - Fences should be mended and painted. - Wash all windows inside and outside. Interior Warm and welcoming! - Lights should be on and drapes should be left open during daylight - Heat set at a comfortable temperature - Fresh flowers/plants in various rooms - Chipped plaster and paint touched up and repaired - Doors and cupboards properly closed - Leaky taps and toilets repaired - Burned out light bulbs replaced - Squeaky doors oiled - Mirrors, fixtures, and taps cleaned and polished - Seals around tubs and basins in good repair - Floors cleaned, garbage containers emptied - Inside of closets and cupboards neat and tidy - Valuable property, out of reach, out of sight, or locked away - Pets absent, where possible, or contained during showings - All torn screens should be repaired or replaced. - Avoid repainting the entire house unless current colors are very loud or offbeat. - White, beige or light pastels are the easiest to work with and they make your rooms look larger. - Fireplace lit in cooler weather – - Air conditioner turned on in warm weather - Countertops neat and polished - Appliances cleaned - Inside of closets and cupboards neat and tidy - “De-personalize”, remove all personal photos and items. You want potential buyers to focus on the house and envision their personal belongings. - Don’t want to sell it with the house? Replace it. If there’s a light fixture or something of a personal nature or sentimental value you don’t want to sell with the house I strongly recommend you replace it. Though it’s a compliment to you, any prospective buyers may ask for this item to be included in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale (even if you have it marked as an exclusion). Save yourself this negotiating tactic and potential frustration by replacing those items before you list. Out of sight, out of mind! |