You'll get more Showings when you have "Curb Appeal" ...

Chances are that the person who ends up buying your home will drive by at least once when making the decision. The following is a list of updates to help make your home more appealing:

Make sure your house numbers are easy to read.
Replace or paint the front door and the mailbox.
Make sure railings are sturdy and freshly painted.
Clean windows.
Touch up or repaint the home's exterior.
Fix loose shutters.
Straighten or replace loose or bent gutters.
Replace old, aluminum windows with new energy efficient vinyl or wood windows.
Make sure all the floors are clean!
Prune overgrown bushes and trees.
Keep grass trimmed and yard clear of toys and debris.
Mulch flowerbeds and around shrubs.
Make sure the doorbell works and the doorknocker is polished.
Add a potted plant or flower boxes to the front entrance.
Make sure the front of your home is lighted and appealing at night.
Deal Breaker Odors - Must Go! You may not realize it, but odd smells like traces of food, pets and smoking odors can stop deals quickly. If prospective buyers know you have a dog, or that you smoke, they'll start being aware of odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Don't leave any clues.  If weather permits, open a window

Tips to Higher Home Prices

1. Tidy it up!
Get rid of unwanted and unused furniture and appliances, any odds and ends you've been saving for a rainy day, and generally anything you haven't used in the last five years.  Weed out every closet mercilessly (you'll thank yourself when you start packing!) and don't forget the garage. Doing this will help your home to look more organized, more spacious and more inviting.

2. Fix it up!
Take care of that to do list.  Including all the little maintenance tasks you never seem to have time for. Go through the house, from top to bottom. Open every door and window, turn on every faucet and check every lamp.  Repair leaky faucets, oil squeaky hinges, tighten loose doorknobs, make sure windows and doors open and close smoothly, and change the burnt light bulbs. Buyers notice.

3. Spruce it up!
Repaint that damaged trim or scratched door (inside and out).  It's amazing how much better your home can look with a fresh coat of paint and how much value it can add, for a relatively little cost. You don't have to repaint everything, but do consider freshening up areas that need it most. 

4. Pretty it up!
Curbside appeal is a big drawing card for home buyers. Not only is it the first thing they notice when they arrive, it's the face they'll present to the world if they buy.  Make the most of this opportunity and spend a Saturday tending to your lawn and garden. Mow the grass, trim the hedges, plant some flowers and weed the garden. Make sure the driveway and walkways are clear and obstacle-free. Your efforts won't go unnoticed.

5. Clean it up!
Now that you've been through cupboards and removed all the needless clutter, get everyone in the family involved and clean the house from top to bottom.  Make sure everything sparkles and - here's the hard part - vow to keep it that way! Make sure beds are made and dishes are done before you leave the house in the morning. Interested buyers might stop by on short notice.

6. Be a Smart Seller - Disclose Everything!
Smart sellers are proactive in disclosing all known defects to their buyers in writing.  This can reduce liability and prevent law suits later on.

7. Never Sign a Deal on Your Next Home Until You Sell Your Current Home.
Beware of closing on your new home while you're still making mortgage payments on the old one or you might end up becoming a seller who is eager (even desperate) for the first deal that comes along.

 8. It's Better With More Prospects. When you maximize your home's marketability, you will most likely attract more than one prospective buyer.  It is much better to have several buyers because they will compete with each other; a single buyer will end up competing with you. 

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