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  Appeal to the Homebuyers' Senses

Tips for Showing Your Home

The exterior of a home is very important because it provides potential buyers with a first impression. If the outside is uninviting or unsightly, the home may be eliminated from consideration. It is estimated that half of the homes are sold before buyers even step out of their car. Sometimes buyers will preview homes by driving by them. In these situations it is even more important to have the exteriors appealing.

Yard
  • Make sure your lawn is tidy. Remove any toys lying about and any gardening equipment and tools.
  • Trim and edge your lawn.
  • Make sure all flower beds are weed free and well kept. Replace any dead plants or trees.
  • If you have a fence, make sure it is in good repair. Replace any broken stakes, make sure the gates swing freely, and paint or stain any areas that are weathered.
  • Fertilize your lawn to make it extra green. A great lawn will make many prospective buyers do a double-take.
  • Your trees should be trimmed in a way that makes the home partially visible from the road. This generates curb appeal.
Roof
  • Homebuyers will be examining your roofing and taking money off their offer if it needs to be replaced.
  • Replace portions of the roof that are old, worn, weathered, or damaged. Typical shingles have a lifetime of about 20 years.
  • Clear your roof of any branches, leaves, or other debris.
  • Make sure all gutters are fastened and are draining propertly away from the house.
Porch
  • Make sure your doorbell works properly.
  • Clean off the doormats
  • If neccessary, apply a fresh coat of paint to your front door. Your doors should be working properly.
  • All porch lights should be working.
  • Consider adding flowering plants to your porch as an enhancement.
  • Polish your door handles.
  • Sweep walkways.
Siding
  • If siding paint is peeling, dulling, or looks weathered, its time to repaint. Tests show painting is the best investment you can make in increasing the resale value of your home.
  • Paint your home's highlight features such as the shutters, and gable vents, downspouts, railings, and trim work.
  • If vinyl siding, hose it off periodically to remove dirt.
  • Look for peices of siding or brick work that need repair.
Patio/Deck
  • Clean up your barbaque or grill.
  • Furniture makes these areas more appealing to buyers.
  • Like your porch, flowering plants will increase this areas attractiveness.
  • Weathered boards should be replaced.
Garage/Driveway
  • If you have an automatic garage door, make sure it is in working order.
  • Clean up any oil or grease stains from the driveway and concrete floor.
  • Provide an unobstructed view of your home from the street by not parking any cars, boats, or other vehicles in your driveway.