Posts Tagged ‘home resale’
Home Improvement-Preparing a Home for Resale with Curb Appeal
This may not be the best time for a home resale, depending on the specific market in your area. However, some folks are finding this necessary in order to survive the current economic climate.
Home resale is often dictated by circumstances, rather than choice. Many have suffered a reduction in wages, and in worse case scenarios have lost their jobs, and keeping a home may be out of the question at this time.
On the bright side, there are other good reasons for selling a home. We may want to relocate closer to family, find a location or community that we find more pleasing in terms of climate, living standards etc. And the fortunate may even be moving up.
There are many things you can do to prepare for resale, but today, let’s focus on curb appeal. You first have to get buyers into the house.
Whatever your reason for home resale:
Make the best advantage of selling your home, and that begins with preparing your home to stand out to perspective buyers and be more desireable than the other available homes in your area.
Go outside and look at your home. Walk across the street and view it as your neighbors see it. Have a pad and pencil in hand and make some notes.
Take an objective look at the exterior of your home and see it if it has curb appeal.
- Does the yard look unkempt? Do plants and shrubs need pruning and tending?
- Trees: Do you have trees that are overgrown and obscure the view of your home? Trees should frame a house, not engulf it.
- The mailbox: Is it beat up and in need of replacing?
- What is the condition on the lawn? You may be somewhat limited to improving it’s appearance this time of year, but be sure it is free of debris and as neat looking as possible. Just mulching around trees and shrubs will add color and spruce things up.
Look at the House Itself
- Check the condition of the paint. You may not want to repaint, but having it powerwashed might greatly improving it’s appearance. And consider possibly just touching up the paint on your trim.
- Wash your windows. Shiny windows can help give a home a welcoming and well kept look.
- Look at the front door area. If you have a porch, tidy it up. Consider painting the front door.
- A distinctive color on a front door can add appeal. Don’t get crazy and paint it “electric blue”, but look at paint brochures for ideas. A white house can be enlivened with the addition of black on the front door. Burgandy and white are also color options depending on the color of the body of your house, and it’s other trim.
- Neatly wind up hoses, and check outdoor faucets to be sure they are not leaking.
- Check outside entry lights. If they are outdated, replace them. Make sure bulbs are working. Also look at your house numbers. Do they need replacing?
The next time you are driving home, look at your home as you approach. Look as if it is someone else’s home. What would you think if it belonged to someone else? Do these people care about their home? What do you suppose the inside looks like? Have they kept it up?
Many of the things you can do to prepare for resale are not costly and can be done yourself. “Curb appeal” is important. You have to get perspective buyers into your home before you can hope to have a successful sale.
Don’t lose perspective buyers at the curb.
