Home seller advice

First Impressions

by Bob Elliott

To begin with they say people make judgments about other people within the first 10 seconds of meeting them. So common sensed dictates that people will judge your house by the first thing that they see and that's the front outside of your property.

Write a way they will notice the for sale sign followed by the Chicago Property Inspection pre-inspected sign instantly giving them peace of mind in knowing there will be no hidden health safety or financial issues to deal with.

Hopefully the following will help you as an incentive to think of your home as a marketable commodity

Exterior.

(Vegetation) Simple as it sounds be sure to keep the lawn trimmed and edged, and the same goes for any bushes make sure they are trimmed properly also. Do you have any flowers? It's so remove any that are wilting or not looking fresh

(Driveway)Remove any clutter or older vehicles that may detract from the property, the next step would be to pull all unsightly weeds from the driveway and sidewalk areas followed by a good sweep and wash down by the garden hose.

(Windows)Check all window frames especially those on the first floor and the basement area for any loose or peeling paint If found it certainly wouldn't hurt to scrap and repaint as people walking up can't help but try and look through windows to see inside, making Windows an important part of that first impression. If you are using paper towels to dry the glass, one useful tip I have is to try a newspaper as something in the printing seems to give those windows a beautiful polished look.

(Stairs)if you have cement steps leading to the front doorway, and they have numerous cracks this is an unattractive sign of age. Consider having the cement resurfaced, as there are numerous contractors that will do this. Today many of them have a latex cement resin compound that will create beautiful designs. Also check the railings to make sure they are not loose.

(Front door)This may be your potential buyers first stop, what sort of message does it give. First off I would recommend leaving the light on even in daylight, as this Is very welcoming for new visitors. How was your doorbell? Isn't clean, does it function. Now check the doorknob ,is it old worn and loose, if so replace it this is very inexpensive and easy to do. Now check the entire door. If the front door is in need of replacing don't give it a second thought this would be a very cost-effective move on your part. Otherwise with time permitting sand and repaint but please do give a thought to buy a brand-new shiny brass kick plate which can be purchased at most home remodeling stores. Hopefully these tips will get you started in looking at your home from a third person viewpoint.