It’s Showtime!

 Successful home selling today requires winning the price war and the beauty contest.  Sound like a lot of work?  It can be.  But the time and expense of preparation will pay off when your sells months ahead of the competition and for thousands of dollars more.

 Here are some suggestions that will help you to get top market value:

General Maintenance

• Oil squeaky doors
• Tighten doorknobs
• Replace burned out lights
• Clean and repair windows
• Touch up chipped paint
• Repair cracked plaster
• Repair leaking taps and toilets

Spacious Look

• Clean stairs and hallways
• Store excess furniture
• Clear counters and stove top
• Remove refrigerator magnets
• Organize closets

Spotlessly Clean

• Shampoo carpets
• Clean washer, dryer, and tubs
• Clean furnace
• Clean fridge and stove
• Clean and freshen bathrooms
• Remove dead flies
• No strong odors or perfumes

The First Impression

• Functional doorbell
• Clean and tidy entrance
• Polish door hardware

 Curb Appeal

• Cut lawn
• Trim shrubs and trees
• Weed gardens
• Clear walkway and drive of leaves and snow
• Repair gutters and eaves
• Touch up exterior paint

 Create The Right Atmosphere

• Leave home before buyers arrive
• Remove pets
• Open all drapes & blinds
• Turn on lights, including furnace & laundry room
• Light fireplace
• Leave on quiet music

Keeping your home perfect inside and out can feel like an endurance contest for busy homeowners.  And it’s all the more reason to choose your price carefully.  Even a perfectly presented home will sit on the market if buyers think it’s overpriced.  But a nice home that’s in great condition, and staged correctly, should sell quickly.