Real Estate Help & Advice

In a Prepare-to-Sell study, agents list the small improvements that pay the biggest dividends when a home is sold.  Many sellers overlook some of the most critical items in the pressure of getting their home prepared for sale.  Here they are listed form highest to lowest returns on investments.

UPDATE KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS

• Make bathrooms and kitchen sparkle
• If the appliances are included with the sale of your home, make sure they are operating and have proper documentation, such as warranties and repair information
• If there are missing or damaged tiles, have them replaced
• Retouch or repaint kitchens and bathrooms if the color is dated or the paint quality is poor
• Make sure sinks are clean and stain-free
• Repair damaged countertops, sinks or tubs
• Remove any mildew and re-caulk crumbling caulk or grout on showers, sinks, tubs and surrounding areas
• Clean tile grout and make stain-free
• Paint, touch up or refinish kitchen cabinetry
• Tighten or replace loose doorknobs or cabinet pulls, sticking doors and drawers and wobbly hinges
• Replace toilet seats
• If appliances are dated or not functioning, consider replacing

CLEAN AND DE-CLUTTER

• Clean the entryway carefully, it creates buyer’s first interior impression of your home
• Clean or purchase new front door hardware
• Hire a professional to thoroughly clean the interior of your home
• Remove excess furniture to give your home a spacious look
• Clean the inside of all kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and neatly organize items on shelves
• Polish woodwork and clean windows
• Get rid of all items on front and back porch
• Doors should be oiled and squeak-free
• Ensure all doors, cabinets and drawers can open completely, without any blockage
• Call in an exterminator to take care of insect problems
• Have a garage sale before the home is listed
• Keep bookshelves and entertainment units organized neatly
• Make stairwells and corridors clutter-free
• Keep screens cleaned and vacuumed
• Get rid of odors (e.g. pet, foot, cigarette)
• Organize closets
• Remove appliances from kitchen counters to give a look of spaciousness
• Make bathrooms sparkle; sinks, toilets and tubs should be immaculate

REPAIR ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING PROBLEMS

• Make sure that all bathroom and kitchen faucets are in good working order
• All toilets should be in good working order
• All drains should be cleaned and free flowing
• If needed, hire a plumber to replace badly rusted and corroded plumbing pipes
• Clean up, paint or replace old plumbing fixtures in all bathrooms
• Repair leaky faucets and remove any rust stains in sinks or tubs
• Remove mildew stains and repair any loose, crumbling caulk or grout around tile and tub areas
• Repair holes in gutters and repair any separation from the eaves
• Make sure that all smoke and burglar alarms are functional
• Doorbell should be in working order
• Inspect and clean furnace; change the furnace filter

CARPETS & FLOORS

• Clean and wax wood or linoleum floors
• Replace missing or damaged linoleum tiles
• Clean linoleum floors in kitchen and bathroom
• Replace worn out vent covers
• Mop and vacuum floors
• If you decide to replace a linoleum floor, choose a neutral color that will have wide appeal
• Patch, repair or replace hardwood flooring

PAINT INTERIOR WALLS

• Remove dated wallpaper and pain walls a neutral color
• Whitewash dark paneling
• Paint, touch up or refinish kitchen cabinetry
• Put a fresh coat of paint on your front door
• Tone down bright room colors by painting them white or a neutral color
• All woodwork, such as stairwell railings and doors should be repainted and/or stained
• Have leaks repaired and watermarks covered
• Make sure that cracks in ceilings and walls are repaired
• The windows should be washed and stain-free.  The window frames should be painted if necessary, and the hinges should not squeak.

PAINT EXTERIOR WALLS

• Paint or clean front and garage doors
• Paint shutters, making sure they are hung straight
• Paint window ledges
• Paint the mailbox
• Paint over any rust spots or streaks on downspouts
• Seal cracks on porch and remove any standing water, if concrete.  If the porch is wood, secure railings and seal or paint as necessary.
• Sand and repaint areas with blistering or peeling paint
• Paint exterior features
• Paint or re-stain fence if it is peeling or dirty
• Repair any damage to the chimney
• Repair holes in gutter and repair any separations from eaves
• Repair or replace shingles or tiles missing from the roof

LANDSCAPE FRONT AND BACKYARDS

• Mow, trim, fertilize, weed and hydrate the lawn
• Re-sod bare spots on the lawn
• Remove dead or dying plants and flowers
• Clean all debris from front and backyards
• If views are obstructed by overgrowth, restore views by trimming trees and bushes
• Add colorful plants or flowers near front door and porch area
• Power wash the deck
• Prune tress and bushes
• Rake fallen leaves
• Weed and fertilize the garden
• Secure or repair fences
• Remove moss and weeds from walkways and driveways
• If you have an awning for the patio, make sure that it is also free of debris and that there are no tears or warn material
• Keep firewood neatly stacked
• Keep trash area clean and organized
• Keep walks, steps and driveways obstacle-free
• Replace welcome mat at the doorway