More times than I can count, I’ve pulled away from a home without getting out because the buyer didn’t like the looks of it from the outside. In the buyer’s mind, if a house is unappealing from the outside, it’ll be no better on the inside - regardless of what the interior really looks like.
Make sure exterior isn't scaring potential buyers away. Step across the street and take a long, honest look at your home. Do you like what you see? If you don’t, then chances are potential buyers won’t either.
First make sure the exterior of your home is in good repair. If siding is coming loose, shutters are hanging askew, shingles are missing or windows are cracked, make those kinds of repairs first. If the paint is cracked or faded, repaint. Most buyers would rather avoid any home deemed a “fixer upper.
Next, what does the front door look like? Beat up front doors can turn away potential buyers regardless of what the rest of the exterior looks like. Give new life to an old front door with new stain or a fresh coat of paint and take the time to sand out scratches. Also, make sure the door hangs straight and opens and closes easily. Locks should turn easily. It’s frustrating when real estate agents must fiddle with the lock. I dread nothing more than showing instructions with detailed directions on how to get the door open.
Even if a buyer falls in love with your home as is, they will likely ask for these many of these repairs anyway - or concessions on the price in anticipation of the work they’ll have to do themselves.
Even if the home is in good repair, there’s still more you can do to stand out. If the exterior of the home is dirty, wash it. Most home improvement stores have do-it-yourself power washing tools, but for the best results, you might have to have it professionally pressure washed.
Wash window exteriors and replace torn or missing screens. Sweep and mop porches, patios and balconies. Make sure you sweep cobwebs and flying insect nests from underneath porch coverings.
Replace broken or missing outside light fixtures. Replace any fence pickets or gates that are visible from the street. Repair or replace broken flower bed edging. Pack away any yard art, statuary and flower pots.
Clean up grease stains from the driveway. You can start by soaking up grease stains with cat litter for a couple of hours. After you sweep up the cat litter, saturate the spots with a degreasing dish detergent and let that soak for a couple of hours. You might have to scrub the stains with a stiff brush as well. If that doesn’t work, you might have to have the drive way power washed as well.
Next turn your attention to the landscape. Make sure the yard is clear of any debris - leaves, brush, old newspapers and trash. If you have bare spots in your lawn, lay down enough sod to cover the problem. Trim bushes and pull up any dead landscaping and clean out the flower beds. Once the flower beds are cleaned out, spruce up them up with a layer of fresh mulch and some seasonal spot color. You don’t have to go overboard, just add enough color to make entrance bright and inviting.
If you’re thinking about selling your home and need a few tips, give me a shout!
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