Whether you are getting ready for an Open House, or simply want to present your house in the best light, it is necessary to view it from the eyes of a buyer! Try looking at your home as if you’ve never seen it before. Consider that any money invested in the following areas may result in increased profits and a faster sale.

Maximizing Curb Appeal

Before potential buyers even see what your home has to offer, they view its exterior. As a result, an unkempt or unattractive view of the outside of the home could potentially result in a missed opportunity. To show the house in its best light, consider the following:

• Walk around the outside of the house and move all materials, including garbage cans and gardening supplies, from the front yard and into a garage or shed.
• Mow the lawn and weed and maintain all planted areas.
• Really look at your plants and shrubs. Keep plants from blocking windows and walkways.
• Replace any outdoor light bulbs that are not working.
• Sweep walkways and steps, and remove all small items from the porch or patio.
• Replace worn or badly stained door mats.
• Check gutters and make sure they are swept and cleaned.
• Check the paint and siding condition of the house – especially the front door and trim. Paint, repair, replace as needed.

Inside the House

Once a potential buyer enters the home, they need to determine if it will meet their needs and expectations. Give them the best view of the home's interior by following these steps:

• Clear the home of any clutter by limiting decorative objects and clearing all unnecessary appliances from the kitchen countertops.
• If you need room to store extra items, use the garage or rent a storage unit.
• Clear refrigerator fronts of any messages, pictures, etc.
• In the bathroom, remove all unnecessary items from countertops, tubs and showers.
• Color coordinate your towels.
• Rearrange or remove furniture to highlight the space in a room. Thin out as much as possible to make rooms appear larger.
• Review each room and clean or vacuum if necessary.
• Clean carpets, drapes and windows.
• Patch and paint any areas that need it.
• During showings, turn on all lights and play soft background music.