This is what your buyer wants to see:  

Not everyone can have perfect grass or a brick lined patio but the closer you can make your lawn look like it belongs in a magazine, the faster you will sell. Even with Short Sales, the process of buying is emotional, like falling in love but only... with a house. Sure, your home may have it's problems but like relationships; the fewer problems, the more likely a buyer will fall in love with it. The price will only get buyers to your door, proper exterior maintenance is the easiest & least expensive thing you can do to make the most positive impact on short selling your home and preventing foreclosure.

One of the most difficult things to convey to a homeowner with limited resources is the important of both the price and the condition. This is a difficult market and buyer agents (if given a choice) would prefer not to show or sell short sales. They assume that it will take a long time, be difficult, or not close at all. Of course, this is the case in the majority of our short sale listings in Charlotte, but it doesn't matter. That's the perception that we all have to deal with and so to help correct the problem, the house needs to look its best for every single showing.

If you're really serious about a successful Short Sale, here are 10 easy and inexpensive things you can do to prepare the exterior of your home for a Spring/Summer buyer's market.

1. Keep grass mowed to a height no greater than 4-6 inches. This usually means that you have it trimmed at least every other week.
2. Properly edge around house, mailbox, trees, and other transition areas. A sharp edge to your lawn adds the finishing touch. What would the interior of your home be like without door frames or baseboards?
3. Trim all small trees and hedges. This does not usually require a power trimmer, a hand held pruning tool is sufficient to recreate that manicured look.
4. Perk up flower beds. Pull all weeds, create a natural defined edge along the perimeter with a flat head shovel, and then cover with fresh pine needles or mulch.
5. Give your home a bath. Especially with vinyl siding, a half day with a pressure washer can add thousands in "virtual value" to your home. These usually rent for about $75 and are very easy to operate. Just be careful to use the correct spray nozzle and setting.
6. Pressure wash driveway and other concrete surfaces. Again, use the correct settings. You do not want it to have lines or irregular patterns of cleanliness. Use a fan spray and remember that your goal is to simply clean the concrete and lighten its appearance. You don't need to make it look brand new again.
7. Pressure wash then refinish decking. The rear deck can be viewed as a benefit or a detriment. Refinishing adds appeal, even to newer decks but if the wood is rotten, add new coat of stain or paint and buyers will rarely notice.
8. Replace or repaint your mailbox, make sure the numbers are easy to see, and plant a flower bed around it if neighborhood restrictions allow. The mailbox is the absolute first thing your buyer sees.
9. Make sure outside amenities are truly amenities and not just something the buyer will have to "deal with." This includes storage buildings, pools, built in basket ball goals, swing sets, and boat docks. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but everything matters to a buyer. Sometimes, its better to haul off old storage buildings than to leave them as an eye sore.
10.  Make sure our Sign reflects the quality of your house. Spray it off occasionally and make sure that it remains standing perpendicular to the ground. Every time one of our agents shows your home, they will correct problems, but a leaning sign just looks bad and should really be corrected immediately.

My company, The LAMB Group; is a regional leader as was one of the very first Short Sale listing agent in Charlote NC. A lot of information can be found here at this blog, as well as my website, www.lambrealtors.com.