Prepare Your Home For Sale

Once you make the decision to sell your home, ask yourself this question and give yourself an honest answer.

If I were in the market to buy a home, would I buy the one I am trying to sell?

Think about it. If the answer is no, then potential buyers will probably feel the same way.

Now ask yourself, what can I do to make my home more appealing?

First, take a good look at your home from the street. Curb appeal can sell your home faster than you might think. The first impression is a lasting impression.

Clean your flower beds, trim shrubbery, and remove any debris from around your house and inside the garage.

Water your lawn during the summer months to keep it lush and green.

Something most people don't think about are the windows. Wash your windows inside and out because dirty windows make a dull house. Clean windows can make a house sparkle.

Look at the walls and flooring. If there are holes in the walls, patch them and paint them. New paint and new carpet can make a home look brand new. If you have hardwood floors, strip and wax them.

Are the kitchen and bathrooms clean? These particular rooms in your home are very important selling points, especially to women.

If a woman doesn't like the kitchen and bathrooms, she probably won't like the rest of the house.

Try to make your home as open and airy as possible. The least amount of furniture in any room will make that room look bigger.

If you've already started to pack, stack and store boxes neatly in a room, preferably the garage.

Pickup clothes off the floor and hang them in the closet. Remember, buyers are going to look in the closets, too

If you have a swimming pool or jacuzzi, keep the water clean and clear. Make sure that the water pumps and filters are in good working condition.

Check your heating and air conditioning systems and the hot water heater.

When you put your home on the market, your realtor is going to have you fill out and sign a real property disclosure statement along with other disclosure forms.

If you know of any damage or defect in the home or of anything in the neighborhood that may cause problems for the new buyers, the law requires you to disclose it.

Preparation is the key to making your home one of the most desirable in the neighborhood.

About the author

John M. Roberts is the owner of John Roberts Realty located in Long Beach, California. You may contact him at jrobertsrealty@yahoo.com.

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