Selling Your Home
Where to Begin?
First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about it most? When deciding how best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back into that buyer’s frame of mind.
A spruced-up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding
a house that looks and feels well cared for. Because buyers believe they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market.
 A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to
live there.
With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.Â
Plan Ahead
Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook, and as you stroll through your home and yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, and cleaning? What can you improve?
Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far towards attracting serious buyers. But remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers.Â
Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:
- Windows, sills, and screensÂ
- Walls and floor CeilingsÂ
- Cupboards and drawersÂ
- KitchenÂ
- BathroomsÂ
- Light fixturesÂ
- Ceiling fansÂ
- Carpet and rugsÂ
- MirrorsÂ
- TV/Computer screens
- GarageÂ
- AtticÂ
- BasementÂ
- Laundry roomÂ
- Yard GuttersÂ
- Replace furnace filterÂ
- Dust furnitureÂ
- ClosetsÂ
- Remove clutterÂ
- Pack personal items
Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:
- Leaky faucets and plumbingÂ
- Torn screensÂ
- Slow drainsÂ
- GuttersÂ
- Loose doorknobsÂ
- Deck boardsÂ
- Broken windowsÂ
- Electrical fixturesÂ
- Water stain damageÂ
- Broken appliancesÂ
- Damaged walls and ceilingsÂ
- Worn carpet and rugsÂ
- Damaged sidewalks and steps
Improvements Checklist:
- Stain or paint deckÂ
- Store toolsÂ
- Roll up garden hoseÂ
- Paint or stain exteriorÂ
- Prune bushes and hedgesÂ
- Trim treesÂ
- Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trimÂ
- Weed gardens, plant flowersÂ
- Shovel driveway/De-ice
- Stack firewoodÂ
- Clean out birdbathsÂ
- Caulk windows and doorsÂ
- Repair and paint fencesÂ
- Seal asphalt drivewayÂ
- Make sure doors close properlyÂ
- Enhance entrywayÂ
- Replace welcome mat
