Getting Started

More and more, buyers are insisting on a home inspection as a condition of the sale. Such inspections are routinely performed on homes of all ages and quality. As a seller, you may want to consider a pre-inspection on your own to see if there are any improvements to be considered prior to putting you house on the market.

Contact me if you have questions or would like to be put in touch with a qualified inspector.

Preparing Your House For Sale

First put it in the best condition possible, especially if you are in a tight market with few buyers and lots of homes for sale.

First impressions are everything and taking care of any major repairs that could deter a buyer (such as replacing any broken windows or replacing missing shingles and repairing a leaky roof) if you can afford it will make a huge difference. Next, focus on first impressions and work on your home's curb appeal.

Make sure your landscape is pristine or, during the winter time keep driveways and sidewalks shoveled.

Mow the grass, and try to keep the borders well edged and defined. Clean up any blown-in debris and weed the garden beds. Plant some annual flowers near the entrance or in pots to be placed by the door. Other quick fixes that don't cost a lot of money but can help you get top dollar for your home are:

• Clean the windows and make sure the paint is not chipped or flaking.
• Give the house a quick wash using any of the commercial window house washing supplies now available. This will remove cobwebs, bird droppings and really freshen things up.
• Make sure that the doorbell(s) work and that the mailbox is in good shape.
• Check your entrance doors. Make sure that all knobs are well secured and function well.
• Clean and freshen up rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. Make sure that bathrooms and kitchens are spotless. Eliminate as much clutter as possible.
• Tidy up your closets. Store out of season clothing and accessories.
• Make sure the all basic appliances and fixtures work. Replace leaky faucets and frayed cords. Shine up all chrome.
• Eliminate the source of any bad smells, such as the kitty box.
• Invest in a couple of vases of fresh flowers to place around the house and maintain these throughout the selling process.
• Keep copies of property taxes, utilities receipts handy - you may be asked for these.

Contact me if you would like to do a walk-through and start planning for your next sale.