Inside Real Estate: Home Atmosphere for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them. Previously, we talked about curb appeal, interior maintenance, exterior maintenance, kitchen and bathrooms, and garages, carports and sheds.

The last aspect we'll talk about is atmosphere. Rather than being a specific area of your home or kind of work, creating atmosphere is about making a prospective buyer's first experience of your home pleasant. These added touches help your home shine.

Suggestions:

• Turn on lights and open drapes
• Light candles or put out fresh flowers
• Play quiet background music
• Turn on air conditioner or heater as appropriate
• Be absent during showings and keep pets outside or confined

Inside Real Estate: Preparing Garages, Carports and Sheds for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them. Previously, we talked about curb appeal, interior maintenance, exterior maintenance, and kitchen and bathrooms.

Another area for special attention is garages, carports, and sheds. These outside spaces are still an important part of your property, and making sure they are clean and organized is part of your home's presentation.

Suggestions:

• Clean and declutter the garage, carport and/or shed
• Replace burned out bulbs in exterior and interior lights
• Clean up cobwebs
• Remove oil stains from floors
• Lubricate, adjust and repair garage door(s)
• Organize and put away tools, gardening equipment, and lawn mower

Inside Real Estate: Kitchen and Bathroom Prep for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them. Previously, we talked about curb appeal, interior maintenance and exterior maintenance.

Now we'll talk about a few specific areas of your home. Kitchens and bathrooms can have a great influence on a potential buyer and should ideally be spotless before a showing. It's important that they be organized, both on counters and in cabinets, and free of mold, mildew and unpleasant odors.

Suggestions:

• Clean all kitchen appliances, inside and out
• Replace all burned out or old light bulbs
• Clean floors and light fixtures
• Deodorize and clean disposal, dishwasher and refrigerator
• Fix leaky faucets
• Clean shower door or replace shower curtain
• Put out fresh towels on towel racks
• Remove soap residue and lime deposits from sink, shower and bathtub
• Make sure toilet flushes properly and is clean

Inside Real Estate: Exterior Maintenance for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them. Previously, we talked about curb appeal and interior maintenance.

Today, we'll talk about exterior maintenance. This is similar to the work you've done on curb appeal, but it includes things that a buyer might not notice from across the street. This up-close impression is still important: like your interior maintenance, taking care of your home's outside tells the buyer that it's been well taken care of, inside and out.

Suggestions:

• Paint or varnish doors and polish hardware like doorknobs and door knockers
• Paint or replace the street numbers on the house
• Clean or wash siding, windows and screens, A/C unit, gutters
• Clean pool and patio or porch
• Repair or paint siding, trim, gutters, shutters, glazing, and window frames
• Clean oil stains off driveway and garage floor
• Make sure all exterior lighting is working
• Repair leaky faucets
• Deodorize septic tank
• Straighten wood pile
• Clean around trash cans

Inside Real Estate: Interior Maintenance for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them. Previously, we talked about curb appeal.

Today, we'll talk about interior maintenance. This is fairly straightforward: cleaning and organizing the inside of your home so prospective buyers see it at its best. Remove as much clutter as possible, and consider hiring professionals to do a deep and thorough cleaning. A clean and orderly home will help buyers see that your home has been well cared for.

Suggestions:

• Clean and vacuum carpets
• Replace worn carpet
• Place area rugs where needed
• Apply a fresh coat of paint to walls
• Wash curtains and drapes
• Lubricate window slides and door hinges, and check door frames to make sure doors close smoothly and properly
• Clean ceiling fans and light fixtures
• Clean and organize closets and cabinets
• Clean corners of rooms and other out-of-the-way areas, and check for cobwebs

Inside Real Estate: Curb Appeal for Selling

When selling your house, there are a variety of things you can do to maximize your home's appeal and value. Remember that many buyers are looking at multiple houses, so it's important to help your house make a good impression. We'll talk about six major aspects of your home and what you can do to improve them.

Today, let's go over a few tips for increasing your home's curb appeal. "Curb appeal" refers to how attractive your house is to someone looking at it from the outside. Try to imagine how your home looks from the perspective of a buyer parked at the curb. You can also go stand across the street to take in the big picture.

Some ideas for increasing curb appeal:

• Yard care: mow and water your lawn
• Lawn maintenance: seed bare spots, deal with weeds
• Pavement: sweep walkways, repair cracks in your driveway
• Yard maintenance: prune bushes and shrubs, weed flower beds, or rake leaves depending on the season
• Structure maintenance: repair broken fences, planters, trellises or walls
• View maintenance: plant shrubs or install fencing to block unpleasant or unattractive views