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 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 Preparing Your Home

Other Improvments

There are a number of improvements that you can make to your house that will provide a greater-than-100% return on your initial investment. Chief among these is having your house painted, but you should also consider kitchen and bathroom renovations, adding fireplaces and skylights, and attic or basement conversions. Contrary to popular belief, building a swimming pool is not a good capital investment, and will usually only add 33% of its cost to your home’s final sale price.

Clean Up and Repair

The most useful chores to tackle first are basic maintenance and repairs before moving onto larger projects. Clean windows and siding, make sure outdoor lights are working, stow away yard tools and equipment, and clean up dead branches and leaves. Make sure that fences, walkways, and the driveway are in good repair too – a home that looks well taken care of is always more attractive to buyers.

Landscaping

A full landscape overhaul may not be necessary, but your yard, especially in the front, should look neat and well maintained. Trim any overgrown shrubs, remove weeds, and tidy up planting areas. If the season is right, add some colorful flowering plants to brighten up areas around walkways and the front entrance. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to create an instantly welcoming feeling.

The Entrance

The front door is another key element of that all-important first impression, and should reflect the style of the home. If replacement is cost-prohibitive, consider reviving a tired, faded door with a fresh coat of paint in a great accent color and swapping out the hardware.

Paint It New

Brighten up the exterior of your home with a new paint job. Driving around your neighborhood may inspire some ideas of what may be flattering to your home. If you’re planning to sell your home, it’s usually best to go with colors that have widespread appeal so that potential buyers won’t be put off by unusual colors or combinations. Painting the exterior can add significantly to the home’s value.