Before You List Anything- Part 3- Cheats For Making Your Home More Attractive

For part 3 of our “Before You List Anything” series, we’re going to give you some general tips on making your home look more attractive for photos and showings!

SPRUCE IT! 

·       Pressure wash (house, driveway, sidewalk & fence)

·       Repaint or clean the front door.

·       Place flowering plants in pots at the front.

·       Remove anything in the yard that doesn’t belong.

·       Spruce up the mailbox.

CLEAN IT! 

·       Dust, mop, vacuum and scrub like you’re getting paid for it, because you will be!

·       Remove clutter & keep surfaces clear.

·       Tidy the toys!

·       Clean fridge, oven, microwave & dishwasher. 

·       Clean ceiling fans and ceilings above them.

·       Clean drapes and blinds.

·       Clean pool & spa.

·       Clean porch and patio furniture.

·       Don’t forget the fireplace and chimney.

·       Replace light switch and outlet plates for a fresh clean look, and clean baseboards to match.

FIX IT!  (Keep all receipts.)

·       Fix doors that don’t work, and gates that don’t latch.

·       Replace all smoke detector and alarm system batteries.

·       Change all light bulbs.

·       Fix annoying plumbing & electrical issues.

·       Replace old bathroom exhaust fans with new ones.

·       Make sure the doorbell works.         

·       Service your air conditioner(s).

·       Clean your dryer vent.

·       If you have the money, before listing, hire a professional inspector to inspect the home for issues and fix as many as you can before listing.  Often these items can be fixed competently by a handyman, but once you are in contract, repairs must often be performed by a licensed contractor, which can be costly or hard to arrange at the last minute!

ORGANIZE IT!

·       Kitchen drawers and cabinets           

·       Closets

·       Shelves

MAKE IT USER-FRIENDLY            

·       Label light switches & breaker box switches.

·       Make a features list & include recent renovations.

·       Figure out where pets will be during showings

·       Make sure you know where sensitive personal items like paperwork can be tucked away quickly so that your personal information is out of sight during showings.

·       Address the smell - Light candles use air freshener 

If you have the money

·       Get an appraisal

·       Get a home inspection

·       Get a termite inspection

 We hope this series was able to give you an idea of what goes into listing a property. For more information, be sure to follow us on Instagram here, and check back every week for new blog posts!