Congratulations! You have made an important decision. You’ve decided it’s time to sell your home. With a little thought and a few simple tweaks, listing your home for sale can earn a deal in any market. It all starts in front of your house:
1. Walk this way! Familiarity can harm our vision of our home. Stand on the curb and assess your curb appeal. Imagine that it is the first time you see this house. How is the carpentry? It needs to be fixed? How does the roof look from the street? What is your impression of the landscape in the front yard? This honest appraisal is the first step in preparing your home to sell.
2. Just do it. Once you’ve been able to identify some potential flaws, it’s time to act. Staging the house means your next steps could be: fix the broken shutter, paint the front door, and if it’s the season, get everyone in the household involved in weeding the front yard. If spring is in the air, a fresh batch of colorful annuals are the perfect inexpensive update to any front lawn.
3. Cut, cut, cut. Mow frequently when in season. As he sets up his house to sell, it’s important to remember that he doesn’t want any small flaws (like a shaggy lawn) to distract his potential buyer.
4. Prohibited Zone for Bicycles. Trikes, Hot Wheels and other toys are a part of life when you have kids, but you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Involve your children in storing these items when they are done playing. Be mindful of your own potential mess: A pair of gardening gloves and a bag of fertilizer left behind could prevent someone from realizing that your house is perfect for them.
5. Front porch available. Now you’ve done it from the street, not from the freshly cut grass. After you’ve admired the annuals on your front lawn and made sure you’ve set up your gardening tools, it’s time to take a good look at your front porch. In spring, is it covered in pollen? In autumn, are the leaves a problem? Sweep or hose down debris from your porch (be careful to set these tools down when you’re done). Does the porch light work? Does the doorbell work? You want to give the impression that your home is well cared for. Something as simple as a burnt out light bulb can make you look like a negligent landlord. The potential buyer may wonder what else is in disrepair or neglect.
What is that I hear? The doorbell? I think you may have your first potential buyer at the door! Stay tuned for more tips on preparing a home for sale. What happens once the front door is opened? I can hardly wait to tell you!