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Three Essential Steps to Prep Your Home in Arlington, Texas

By Kimberly Grogan

Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty Arlington

October 21, 2014 07:14 AM

If you are looking for a real estate agent in Arlington, Texas, contact The Grogan Group at 682-422-7176

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Maybe you are moving into your dream house or maybe you are downsizing to a retirement property. No matter where you are going, you’ll want to get your current home in Arlington, Texas on the market and sold as soon as possible. Before you list your property, you’ll want to make sure it’s ready to sell. To get your place ready to go, follow these three steps to prep your pad.

Step One: Clean Your Crib and Clear the Clutter

Today’s housing market is competitive. Sellers need to gain every advantage that they can. Buyers will be turned off by a messy house. To get the most out of your investment, you’ll need to clean your crib from top to bottom. Cleaning your house doesn't mean picking up the newspapers and shoes from the middle of the living room. It means scrubbing every nook and cranny until they shine.

Start at the top of the house and move to the bottom. Make sure to move the furniture and sweep up the dust bunnies that are living under the beds. Wipe off the woodwork and windowsills. Clear the dust off the top of the dressers and wipe off the blades on the ceiling fans. In the bathrooms, scrub the tub, shower, toilet and flooring. Polish the plumbing fixtures and shine the mirrors. Your bathroom should sparkle when you are done.

Clear out the closets and the cupboards. Don’t try to hide your clutter in storage spaces. Prospective buyers will be evaluating your house on whether it has enough space to store their things. If all of the closets are bursting with your things, you’ll give the wrong impression.

After you finish the bedrooms, move to the main rooms. In the kitchen, shine your sink, use a de-greaser on the stove top and oven and clean out the fridge and the pantry. Wipe down the cabinets and mop the floor. Your living room and dining room should be vacuumed, dusted, and polished. Don’t forget to wipe fingerprints off walls and light switches.

In all of your rooms, you’ll want to de-clutter as much as possible. You may want to rent a storage locker and move excess furniture, clothes, and knick knacks off site until after you sell the house. Take down the family photos and pull the kid’s artwork from the refrigerator. Plan to remove one third to one half of your belongings before the For Sale sing ever hits the lawn. You’ll want your house to look open and airy, not closed and cluttered.

Step Two: Paint and Patch

Most buyers want to buy an Arlington home, not a project. Unless you are willing to settle for a “fixer upper” price, you’ll need to roll up your shirt sleeves and get to work. All of the home repair projects you have been putting off need to be done.

If you have window screens with holes in them, get them patched. If the kitchen faucet is dripping, replace the washer. Patch up any holes in the drywall. Make sure all of the lights are working and replace bulbs if necessary. You may spend a little money on repairs now, but you’ll get it back when you make the sale.

Take a good look at the paint in each room. Is it clean? Is it pleasing to the average person? If your answer is no, it’s time to break out the brushes. If the wall paper is peeling, or if it’s dated, pull it off and paint instead.

Evaluate your kitchen and bathrooms. Are the cabinets, counters, flooring and fixtures in good condition? Are they clean and modern or old and broken? If these spaces look worn, buyers will walk away. Consider investing in new counter tops, cabinets, fixtures or flooring if it will fit your budget.

Step Three: Groom the Grounds

First impressions are lasting impressions. Before you can close a sale on a home in Arlington, Texas, you need to get an interested buyer in the door. To do that, you’ll want to make sure your house has plenty of curb appeal.

Trim your trees and remove any that are showing signs or rot or decay. Mow the lawn. Clip the bushes. Pull the weeds in the flower beds. Invest in seasonal flowers and decorative pots to brighten up your front porch or entryway. If your fence needs to be repaired, fix it. If your front door or garage needs painting, do it. Clean the siding. Wash the windows. Your property should appear neat and well-kept.

Once you've cleaned your house, cleared the clutter, painted, patched and groomed, you’ll be ready to take your next step toward selling your house: contacting a real estate agent. Don’t be surprised if your agent has even more suggestions for improvement. Take his or her suggestions to heart. Remember, your agent has the expertise in making a home sale in Arlington, Texas. The little imperfections that your agent notices are exactly the things that could lead a buyer to scratch your home off their list.

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