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Home Sellers – Clean Off Your Driveways and Sidewalks

By
Real Estate Agent with Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real 0225221517

Home Sellers – Clean Off Your Driveways and Sidewalks

Selling Your HomeWe have had a couple snows so far this winter and a mixture of precipitation in general. I’ve noticed each time I head out to show houses the next day more than half don’t have their driveways and sidewalks cleaned off. An inch of snow isn’t much but, it’s enough to cause someone to slip and when you know you are going to have potential buyers coming in to tour your home you need to clean the driveway and sidewalks off. Not only does it eliminate a safety hazard it also means less snow and dirt dragged in on shoes.

 

One seller had cleaned off their driveway and the sidewalks and inside the door had laid down a large blanket and put two chairs out with a sign asking to please remove shoes. The house was spotless inside and obviously well maintained. It stood out to my buyers that they had put a blanket and chairs out. Safety is the main purpose for cleaning snow off driveways and sidewalks but, it also leaves a better impression with buyers. If you don’t care enough to shovel snow from a buyer’s standpoint there’s a question mark on what else you haven’t taken care of over the years.



 

Posted by

 

Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group

 

 

      

 

AMANDA DAVIDSON  
l ASSOCIATE BROKER l  
l AMANDA DAVIDSON REAL ESTATE GROUP BROKERED BY Real

C  703.431.3755   |   O  855.450.0442  |   W  www.amandadavidson.com

A  1765 Greensboro Station Place Suite 900 McLean, Va 22102




Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Amanda, this is so important this of year.    It is wonderful to be able to show, not slip and slide on the snow/ice to get to the front door.    Great post and timely!

Jan 09, 2014 09:58 PM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I thought of the liability part of it if some buyer were to slip, fall and break their neck. That could be worse than the house not selling. 

Jan 09, 2014 10:01 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Good morning, Amanda -- this is a good reminder to home sellers -- making sure curb appeal including making it easy for a prospective buyer to access the home remains important throughout the entire process....all the way to closing.  

Jan 09, 2014 10:04 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA
Amanda: You are right, safety first, always! That first impression is always the lasting one.
Jan 09, 2014 10:30 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Amanda. This is terrific and I so agree. It is about more than just the cleaning and in the example you shared: the buyers did and will remember this house and these owners forever. Suggested.

Jan 09, 2014 11:07 PM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Amanda,  I have the problem with vacant homes.  I put blue shoe covers inside and 2 chairs for people to sit down and either remove shoes or put on the covers.  I also caryy blue shoe covers with me for places that say take off shoes.  Some clients do not want to do that, so I give them covers.

Jan 10, 2014 02:02 AM
Jennifer Shenbaum
Jennifer Buys Houses - Redondo Beach, CA

While I don't have to deal with snow here in So Cal, curb appeal is still the first impression nonetheless.  Seeing a mess, whether it be snow, leaves, or tall grass, sets off the "this home requires maintenance" bells.  

Jan 10, 2014 02:39 AM
Lawrence "Larry" & Sheila Agranoff. Cell: 631-805-4400
The Top Team @ Charles Rutenberg Realty 255 Executive Dr, Plainview NY 11803 - Plainview, NY
Long Island Condo and Home Specialists

So true Amanda. And, having a chair to take shoes off is a necessity!

Jan 10, 2014 02:56 AM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

I wonder if their insurance providers would like to know that, Amanda. Makes so much sense. Good post. 

Jan 10, 2014 03:33 AM
Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Great post Amanda, while we don't have to worry about this in FL, we do have to worry about leaves, grass etc. Suggested!

Jan 10, 2014 10:06 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Amanda, there is also the possibility of getting sued.  In this area so many agents and clients - or their spouses - have law degrees.  A little slip and fall could be a huge contribution to their down payment.

Jan 10, 2014 12:35 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Amanda safety is so important therefore home owners need to pay attend to the tasks you outlined.

Jan 10, 2014 03:29 PM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Joan, I agree. I always worry my clients might slip!

Debbie, so true!

Michael, it really does. The details count!

Anita, yes! Definitely safety first.

Thank you Sheila!

Will, I can see it being a challenge with vacant homes, particularly with all the snow you get in Denver.

Jennifer, very true!

Larr and Sheila, I think so too. Never fun hopping around trying to get your shoes off :)

Toni, hadn't thought of that, good point. I'm sure they would.

Beth, I know not worrying about snow has to be nice! Leaves can be a real challenge too.

Patricia, excellent point and I completely agree. Not worth the risk!

Thank you Jennifer!

Jan 10, 2014 09:55 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Amanda, hopefully most of your snow has melted!   We still have some around, and especially at vacant homes that no one shoveled!

Jan 10, 2014 10:39 PM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Joan, it's all gone now. Maybe more next week. Vacant houses are definitely a challenge!

Jan 11, 2014 03:20 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Amanda, great post and agree homeowners should be responsibe for removing snow not only to protect from a law suit, but as you stated, to protect the floors in the home.

Jan 12, 2014 05:08 AM
Michelle Gibson
Hansen Real Estate Group Inc. - Wellington, FL
REALTOR

Amanda - Removing snow is a must and if the seller can't do it they need to hire someone to do it for them.

Jan 12, 2014 08:29 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Thank you Rebecca!

Michelle, I completely agree!

Jan 12, 2014 09:34 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Absolutely, Amanda. I was visiting one of my rentals after the most recent snows. I noticed that 4 out of 5 neighbors did not clear their sidewalks or driveways. That was two days after the snow. Oy!

Jan 13, 2014 10:11 AM
Amanda S. Davidson
Amanda Davidson Real Estate Group Brokered By Real - Alexandria, VA
Alexandria Virginia Homes For Sale

Mike, makes no sense to me! I always do mine because I'm afread someone is going to slip and then blame me. Not worth the headache!

Jan 13, 2014 09:46 PM