In today's ultra-competitive real estate market, prospective buyers give at least as much consideration to what is wrong with a home as they give to what is right. RJMoore Realty Inc helps you see your home from a buyer's perspective, suggesting ways to enhance your property for showings. Here is a checklist of things to do when preparing your home for sale:
Hire a home inspector: Hiring a licensed home inspector before putting your home on the market allows you to address potential problems before buyers can make them an issue.
Maintain your home's exterior: If you live in a single-family home or townhome, maintain your lawn or landscaping. In the winter, shovel and de-ice walkways. In a condominium, pay attention to the area in front of your doorway. Keep it neat and inform the superintendent of any problems, such as burned out lights. Make balconies or decks inviting.
De-clutter: It's one of the most important steps to preparing your home for sale, and the one that every seller dreads. Nevertheless, go through your home room by room and ask yourself what you can throw away and what you can put into storage. Then, do it again.
Clean your closets: Today, closet space can be a deal maker or breaker. Once again, go through closets and pantries and throw away, give away or put away anything you don't need for the next few weeks.
Paint: A fresh coat of paint is the least expensive, most effective way to enhance the appearance of your home. Use neutral colors.
Set the stage: "Staging" is the art of arranging your furniture and accessories to optimize the presentation of your home. Your RJMoore Realty Inc agent can help you stage your home or recommend a professional stager.
Brighten your home: Light gives the impression of space, so it is important for every room in your home to have ample light any time of day. Prior to showings, wash windows, raise blinds and turn on lights. Add floor or table lamps to brighten dark rooms or corners.
Spruce up kitchens and baths: Organize drawers and cabinets, clear off counters, clean refrigerators and ovens (yes, people actually open them), and make sure these very important rooms look their best at all times.
Clean carpets and upholstery: Have carpets and upholstery professionally cleaned, especially if stains are visible or you have a pet.
Disclose everything: Withholding information about known defects can cause much bigger headaches than the problems themselves. If you have questions about property disclosures, ask your agent.
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