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Preparing your home for sale

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams American Premier Realty 615729

Most homeowners go to great lengths to make sure the interior of their home is pristine before meeting with a real estate agent and putting it on the market. What they don't realize, however, is that "curb appeal" really does matter... Those first impressions of the home can leave a positive or negative impression in a potential buyer's mind.

Here are a few things to remember to check around the exterior of your home:

•¨      Roof and gutters:  When buyers look at your house from their car, about 30% of what they see is your roof.  Be certain it's in good repair.

•¨      Landscaping:  A well-manicured yard and a smooth, even driveway reassure potential buyers that you care about your property.  A yard free of mud and weeds suggests a good sprinkler system and low maintenance.

•¨      Paint and siding:  Neutral colors and a clean appearance are important.  Consider repainting or power-washing both your house and roof.

•¨      Porch or covered patio:  Make sure it's clean and uncluttered.

•¨      Fence:  Fencing should be in good repair.

If you're an agent, staging the exterior of the home is important too. In fact, I offer my sellers a complimentary "curb appeal package" as part of our listing agreement. I find it that beneficial!

Good luck!

April Solomon
Keller Williams Professionals - Swannanoa, NC
Broker/Realtor/GRI

Thanks for those extra tips I tell all my sellers to spruce up the outside of the home if needed when I take the listing and it has been very helpful in making the sale.

Sep 19, 2009 04:38 PM
Matt Grohe
RE/MAX Concepts - Des Moines, IA
Serving the metro since 2003

Laura: I listed a home recently and gave the sellers a to do list of some exterior items such as are on your list. We got an accepted offer in under a week. It works!

Sep 19, 2009 04:47 PM
John Rakoci
Eagle Realty - North Myrtle Beach, SC
North Myrtle Beach Coastal Carolinas

If buyers do not really like what they see on the outside they will never see how great the inside really is.

Sep 19, 2009 05:19 PM