Home Preparation Tips for Sellers

To start with, you need to begin separating yourself emotionally from any personal feelings you have about the house. It is no longer your home, it is a commodity that you want to sell. Evaluate your home. Try to see it as if you were seeing it for the first time. If you were considering buying a home, consider what you might think of when seeing this house. What are the home’s best features? How can you make these features stand out? What improvements or changes would be needed immediately? This brainstorming session will help you know where to start in order to prepare your home for sale.

Make it Spacious

Consider what you can do to make the house seem more spacious. You can start by finding a temporary storage unit or an out of the way location to store any items. Then begin moving excess furniture to make the rooms seem bigger. Clean and organize your closets, getting rid of anything possible to help make the closet size appear large. Do your best to get rid of clutter in every part of the house. Study the house and brainstorm with friends or family members to come up with ideas.

Pack It Up

Pack up as much as you can of large, personal items or collections… otherwise the buyer will become more interested in looking at those and forget to look at the house. Also, pack away family photos or anything not on the walls. The buyers should be able to imagine their own possessions in your home. If the buyers start discussing how their furniture might fit into your home, then you may be on your way to a contract!

Find and Emphasize Features

Every home has specific features that make it special. Find the features in your home and emphasize them. Try moving heavy drapes if they block your great view. Those hardwood floors are excellent, but you may want to remove the rugs to give a better view. Clear off the tops of your kitchen cabinets so the vaulted ceilings appear higher, and remember to dust as well.

Add Some Life

Living plants, not artificial, make any home come to life. Consider staging plants throughout the house.

Updating

How about fresh paint. Are walls in the house dingy? Are the colors dated? Should you clean curtains or other window ornaments? Look around and see if everything is up to date, especially if your home is older. Try washing walls, or even painting them. Pick new, neutral colors. If anything else needs to be cleaned, like curtains or blinds, do that as well.

Create a Mood

It’s possible to create a mood, even if you’re not going to be there for the showing. Bake some bread and place a fresh loaf in a basket on the table. It will not only look inviting, the house will smell like freshly baked bread! Depending on where you live, you might want a little music playing softly in the background. If you live near the beach, play something calming. If you live in the mountains, consider some folk music. Whatever you pick, be sure it’s something many people might enjoy as your taste in music might be very different than the buyers.

Curb Appeal is Essential

We mentioned keeping the lawn nicely trimmed, but how about adding other elements to grab a buyer’s attention before they walk in the door? Try to think of any other elements that might grab a buyers attention as they approach your home. Sweep your driveway, especially after mowing the lawn. Wash the outside of the home or sidewalks if needed. Enhance landscaping if it might help the appeal. Find an attractive set of fixtures for the outside lighting, or line the driveway with solar lights. This makes the home especially attractive for buyers doing evening drive-bys. Although every house is different, if you take the time to prepare your house to look it’s best, you may be setting your house apart from others. You might sell faster and for a better price then you’d even hoped. Overall, if buyers have a great impression of the home, they may be more willing to let minor repairs slip by without concern. They’ll feel better about the overall maintenance of the home, and may even fall in love with the house as soon as they see it. Although every house is different, if you take the time to prepare the house to its best look, potential buyers will be pleased with the results

Resale Potential for Your New Home

You might think it's strange to consider selling a house you don't even own yet, but what if you decide to move? Do you want a house that has grown in value and sells quickly? Sure you do. Many of us won't live in the same house forever, so when considering a purchase it makes sense to look at resale value. Although it takes a little more time to think about the resale value when considering a home, if there comes a time when you have to sell, you'll be glad you made that earlier effort. Begin finding out about resale values from the very start of your home buying search.

Location, Location, Location

When deciding on location, don't necessarily pick somewhere that has a desirable status today, but rather, look at the reasons why it has become so, and then look for a location that includes those same things or will within the time you're living there. Some things to consider could be availability of services, areas in town increasing in desirability, community changes (for good or bad), etc. Allow these factors to influence your decision on where to buy. Remember to always find a home that suits your needs and wants best, but if possible, someplace that others might end up wanting as well. Think also of what type of people are moving in. If a lot of recent buyers are families with small children, search for a house with a large yard, lots of room, and away from a busy street. If there are elderly people buying where you're looking, consider homes with few or no steps, as seniors sometimes have difficulties. Also try reviewing real estate ads in your area. If there is a particular feature mentioned in several areas, it could be one that is in demand. Also avoid buying outdated homes, unless you plan to fix it up. A home with two bathrooms is worth a lot more than a home with only one. Central air and heating are more popular than swamp coolers or baseboard heat. Although you might think outdated means character, keep in mind that in order to resell, you'll probably have to change those older features.

Cosmetic Fixes Can Be Painless

If you see the home needs just a few cosmetic touches, don't be afraid to do them yourself. Often homes in need of cosmetics are priced below market value. Fresh pain is fairly inexpensive and can make any home look almost new. A few new appliances can make an old kitchen come to life. Consider adding glass to your front door or cabinet doors to lighten things up. New light fixtures or switch plates can change the entire feel of a room. Take a trip to a nearby hardware store and check out what they have to offer. However, be sure to buy good quality product so that your fixes stay fixed.

Buyers Wants

Important features change, depending on your area. If you want to find out what is in demand, talk to a realtor, look in a realtor magazine or even ask the hardware store for some input. Some features that nearly every buyer looks for include storage space, closets (the larger the better), homes with natural lighting or bright, open areas, and floor plans with bedrooms on each end of the home are becoming every more increasing in popularity. If you know that you will be moving in three to five years, carefully consider the resale value of any home you consider purchasing. Even if you think you'll stay for awhile, find a house that's right for you, but don't hesitate to think of how it might be right for someone else, somewhere down the road.

A home is the most expensive thing that most of us will ever buy and we all want to be certain that we've purchased the right one. You loved your future home when you signed the contract to purchase it, but a few days have passed and now you are wondering if you made the right decision. You can't help thinking maybe you acted too quickly, or a better house might come along. You're wondering if you've agreed to pay too much for the house or questioning how you'll make your house payments if you run into financial troubles. Dozens of questions start running through your mind. The bad news is these questions probably won't be answered until you have actually become the owner of the home. However, unless there is a real reason for your concern, you are probably just suffering from home buyer's remorse. Here are some suggestions on how to get through the rough spots:

Find Your Wants and Needs List

Hopefully you created some sort of list of your wants or needs before purchasing the home. Find it, review your notes, and remind yourself that this really is what you were looking for. Ask yourself:

• Are the important things from my list included in the home?
• Think of other houses you walked through. What was it that made this house different than the others? There was a reason you picked this house to bid on.
• Were this particular house a rarity or were there several other houses that met your needs? Why did you pick this one?
• If you found a way to back out of the contract, do you realistically think you will find a better house?
• There was something about this house just a few days ago that made it different, made it special. Have any of those things changed? If so, what changed and how?

Once you work through the facts, as well as sort out your feelings, you may find that you would be nervous moving forward on any house. However it is possible that you've made a poor choice and you can talk to your agent, your lender or sometimes even the seller in order to work through those concerns or find a way out, if necessary. Keep in mind that sometimes we start talking to others about the new house and it is only then that we start feeling remorseful. Below are some scenarios that bring on buyer's remorse, and maybe knowing them and being aware of them can help you avoid this happening to you.

Discussions with family and friends

Families mean well, but often family and friends tend to question our choices and even what we paid for, especially if this is a first home purchase and they think they are old pros. Think about though, it may have been years since they were in the market, bought a home themselves or even considered current prices. It's likely they are out of touch. And what if they live in a totally different area than you, an area where housing might cost quite a bit different than what is expected in your location. Also keep in mind that many parents don't think anything is good enough for their offspring. Although families mean well, don't let their ideas, thoughts or suggestions sway you. Trust your own decision.

Continuing to Look

Stop. Once you've found a house you like, stop looking at others. Even if you feel the contract has a good change of falling through, try to have some patience. Once you've found a home you like enough to offer a contract on, don't let yourself fall into the trap of always looking for something a tiny bit better. Trust your decision.

Unguided by Agents

If you are working with an agent, then their job is to help you. Contact your agent and anyone else involved in closing whenever you have doubts or questions. Some agents only guide their buyers to closing, rather than through closing. If your agent isn't around to answer questions or assure you that what you are feeling is normal, doubts and questions begin to arise. Doubts can lead to panic and panic can lead to buyer's remorse. Be sure your agent is helping you with what you need or find another agent. Click Here to contact your agent.

Doubting Yourself

Because there are no certainties in life, sometimes we think about the negative rather than looking at the positive. Every time you find yourself starting to dwell on what could go wrong, allow yourself to think of the reasons that prompted you in the first place. Trust yourself.

When Your Concerns are Valid

There are times that purchases should come to a halt. Be sure that the conditions of your contract allow you to back out with no penalties if:

• You cannot get financing.
• The house does not appraise at a price at or above the contract sales price.
• The home inspections uncover more repair issues than you are willing to take on.
• The property boundary lines are not as represented by the seller.
• A title search uncovers undisclosed easements that give someone else the right to use the property.
• The title search uncovers undisclosed liens that won't be satisfied at closing.
• There are problems with the property's deed. For instance, the wife of a former owner never released her rights to the property.

Time-Shares and Condos

Many states give buyers the right to cancel a contract if they have a change of heart after signing a purchase contract with the original developer-these same laws don't usually cover resale units. Check your states laws to see what options you have. Prepare Yourself in Advance Possibly the best thing you can do is to realize that home buyer's remorse is common. Understanding how and why buyer's remorse occurs can help you work through it if it happens to you.

Determining a Home’s Value

No matter how seasoned a buyer may be, no matter how many homes you’ve purchased or what you know about the market value of homes in your area, it can still be unsettling to make a formal offer. Below are some ideas about what you should or shouldn’t do when making an offer on a home. Some buyers are so worried about overpaying for a home, or missing the seller’s low point, that they come in with an extremely low offer, and it alienates the seller. If the house is obviously overpriced or low is all you can offer, go ahead and do it, but keep in mind that the seller might take it as a personal insult and may not want to deal with you. Consider making a more realistic first offer, if it all possible.’,'If you offer too high, you may never find out if the seller had a lower point, and might pay more than you needed to for a home. Try to obtain a good idea of the market and of that particular home’s market value before you make any type of offer. Be sure when requesting an agents help for making an offer that you are talking to the buyers agent, not the sellers. A seller’s agent has a specific duty to get the best deal he can for the seller. Some agents will offer you a list of comparable properties and the prices they’ve sold for but will not help you decide the offer. Unethical agents might even try to talk you into a higher offer because they know what the seller is hoping to get. A buyer’s agent, however, will help you determine what to offer. Not only will the agent run comparables for you, but will also help you plan and write the offer and probable even present it for you. Remember that having a buyer’s agent doesn’t cost you anything - their commission comes from the sale of the home.

Visit your county courthouse (or equivalent place where property records are kept). Ask the staff to explain how to decipher deeds or other records that indicate sales prices. An example: Possibly each tax dollar represents $500 in sales price, so it’s easy to calculate how much the buyer paid for the property. Home buyers around the US will find huge differences in the ease of this type of search. Some record-keeping systems are much simpler to access than others. Some localities have records available on disk or online, but most do not. This type of search is easiest to accomplish when you know the address of specific properties or the names of the buyers or sellers. If you attend open houses, keep the listing sheets. When the house has sold, go get the details. Attending open houses helps you track the condition of homes. It’s hard to make comparisons by looking only at recorded stats. Check your local courthouse as well because some records could include home facts, sketches or even blueprints. You might consider ordering an appraisal before you make an offer, however, you want to be sure that the results of your appraisal are not publicized because opinions can vary by appraiser. Also check out advertised prices for similar homes because it can give you an idea of average asking prices… keep in mind, however that the sales price is probably different than the asking price. Consider taking a look at your home’s tax value, but it probably won’t match exactly the market value of the property.

Other factors

Be sure to consider other factors when deciding an offer amount. If the house has only been on the market for a short time, the sellers may not take the first offer, especially if it’s lower than they’d desired. If it’s been up for awhile or they need to move, they may be more motivated. Compare with other houses for sale in the same neighborhood or area. Look for repairs or updates needed, especially those that could be costly like roofs, plumbing, electrical, windows, baths or kitchens. If the repairs could be costly and immediate, the offer price could be lower if the seller understands why it is. Remember that your final decision on what to offer will come as a combination of your instinct and research.

It's Not Yours Until the Paperwork is Complete

You're counting down the days until closing, the sellers have accepted your offer, the lender has you pre-approved and the house is officially under contract. Does this make the home yours? Nope - nothing is certain until all the paperwork has been signed, and the keys are in your hand. There are still some things that can happen before you close, and if you're not careful about your actions between now and closing, you might accidentally slow things down, cause yourself stress, or worse, break the deal. Here is some advice on what NOT to do until the ink is dry:

1. Don't Change Jobs

Banks are always nervous about lending money, and usually a mortgage is the most a person may ever borrow. Banks like to see consistency in your job history. They are less nervous if you change jobs within the same field, but they prefer if you stay put, especially when waiting for mortgage approval. Until the keys are in your hands, don't change jobs unless it's absolutely necessary.

2. Don't Make a Large Purchase

It is wonderful news if you've just found out your credit is great. However, making a major purchase can quickly change your credit rating, because it changes your debt-to-income ratio. Although a new car would look great in the driveway of your new home, the car payment will not look great to those lending you money. They may decide not to lend you money after all. It's better to wait until after closing to make any major purchases, including furniture, cars, etc. If you absolutely must make a large purchase, it's a good idea to talk to your loan officer before you do it.

3. Don't Give Earnest Money Directly to a For Sale By Owner

Sad as it is, sometimes a seller spends a buyer's deposit money prior to closing. If the transaction doesn't take place, even for valid reasons, like financing problems, repairs, etc., the buyer ends up fighting to retrieve their funds. Your deposit is probably safer if placed in a trust account. Some sellers don't realize or understand that deposit funds are to be applied to your closing expenses. Find a neutral party, preferably an attorney, someone who can hold your deposit until you close. It's also a good idea that your contract defines what happens to these funds if closing never takes place.

4. Don't Forget to Switch Utilities

It may seem simple to arrange for utilities to be started or stopped, however many people forget to cancel or apply for utility service. As soon as you have a contract, it's a good idea to call the utility company. Find out how many days lead time they need in order to switch the service, and be sure they'll be discontinuing services at your old home. Depending on how far the move between your old home and your new one, you may have to contact a different utility company for the same service.

5. Don't Forget Hazard Insurance

Hazard Insurance is another often forgotten task that some buyers scramble to take care of right before closing. Before you can close, a lender will want ensure that you have some type of coverage for the new home. Obtain this coverage as early as possible in order to avoid delaying the closing. In some areas, other types of insurance coverage may be required. Your lender can indicate what insurance requirements there are in your area.

6. Don't Allow Emotions to Take Over

>While searching for a home to buy, it's important to be realistic. There is no perfect home, although there is a home perfect for you. If there are repairs needed, don't allow the seller's refusal to do a small repair ruin the deal or your dreams. Often, it isn't a big deal for the buyer to make small repairs. However also keep in mind that some repairs are too big, so don't allow yourself to fall in love with a house that you may not be able to handle, financially or emotionally. Decide beforehand what kind of repairs you can realistically handle and then stick with that decision when looking for homes. Remember to maintain a good attitude and keep a cool head throughout the entire process, including during and after an inspection, as well as at closing.

7. Don't Make Friends with the Seller

Although it's important to be cordial, it isn't a great idea to get into a lot of discussion with the seller. No matter how nice you are, the home you are buying used to be theirs and you may just hurt their feelings by making a comment you think is fine. Everyone makes changes to their new home, but some sellers don't like change and a casual statement could end up costing you when issues about repairs or other things come about. Be friendly, but don't make friends with the sellers. Remember, it's not always a good idea to mix business with pleasure.

8. Don't Panic if the Appraisal Comes in Low

If the appraisal comes in low, there are several options you have in order to resolve things before you panic. Talk to your lender, your realtor, the seller and others in order to decide what is best for your situation. Some resolution could include buyer paying more, seller asking less, finding middle ground, etc.

9. Don't Ignore Lender Requirements

Every lender will have certain requirements or documentation. Listen carefully and provide everything they need in a a timely manner if you want things to go as quickly as possible. Your closing may depend on it.

10. Don't Do Things Alone

If you decided to work with an agent, part of your agent's job is making sure things go smoothly and that closing is completed. A good agent should be tracking most of the day to day details that involve the buyer, the seller, the lender or the seller's agent. Don't let your agents off the hook by neglecting to ask for their help. Remember, they're getting paid to help you.

It might surprise a first time home buyer that they aren't the only ones who feel confused about the whole home buying process. Almost all home buyers feel the same way, even those who have purchased a home before. It's easy to forget some or all of the home buying steps you've followed in the past. Here are some tips on how to begin:

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Educate Yourself

You may have relatives or friends who live in another state or area. They might have some good advice for you, but chances are that the home buying process varies greatly in different areas, so do not make the mistake of relying solely on their advice. Educate yourself about the home buying customs where you want to live. You can talk to realtors, mortgage brokers, loan officers, or even friends who've recently moved into your area. Also the public library might be a good resource.

How to Get Educated

Approach a real estate agent by explaining that you do not want to enter into an agreement for representation at the current time. However, find out if they will talk to you about a typical home buying scenario. Any agent that won't take a few moments of time to help you understand home buying, probably, isn't an agent that you want to work with. If you have to make several calls to find someone willing to help you, it will be worth the effort. If you aren't comfortable talking to a real estate agent, you can always try a mortgage broker or a loan officer. Everyone will have a different perspective of the process but all should be able to give you a basic overview or understanding of the home buying process.

Questions to Ask An Agent

Once you find answers to these questions, you'll have a much better idea of the basic home buying customs in your area.

• If I decide to work with an agent, once I've decided to purchase a home, will the agent help me compose my offer? If not, who would be willing to help? (Lawyer, Broker, etc.)
  Some agents use fill-in-the-blank forms and if so, ask for a sample to take home and study and possibly use for ideas to create your own.
• Will an agent give me a sample copy of typical disclosures? What kind of disclosures are sellers required to give to their buyers? Does it differ by city or area?
• Is a home inspection standard in the area? Are there other types of inspections recommended? How much does an inspection usually cost, and who pays the cost, buyer or seller? When is the inspection usually done, before or after an offer or closing?
• Is a survey of the property required, and if so, who pays for it, the buyer or the seller?
• If I want to be sure the deed to the title is problem free, do I need to contact a title company? Does someone else do this for me? What is the average cost for this service?
• Who acts as settlement agent, the person who puts together final paperwork for you to sign? (attorney, title company personnel, real estate broker, other)? Who will put together final paperwork for signing (otherwise known as settlement agent)? Several options could include title company, real estate broker, attorney, etc.
• Other than loan costs, what's the average total cost for other closing fees? What is the average total cost of closing fees, other than the cost of the loan? What is included in these fees, such as taxes, agency fees, etc.?
• Once my offer has been accepted, how long does it normally take to close on a home? What might hold closing up or make it difficult?
• What can I, as the buyer, do to ensure things go smoothly?

Stay Calm

It is very likely that you will hit a few snags on the way to closing - most people do. However, if you keep your head clear, you will be able to work with the right people to resolve any issues that pop up and the transaction will end up smoothly. There are many details to keep track of, so remember not to over react if something goes wrong, and every problem has a solution.

Now Begin

Now that you've reviewed this section, your next steps are the same as they would be for every home buyer. Relax, take a few deep breaths and then begin! Dig into the details and simply start the home buying process. If you allow yourself to enjoy it, the whole experience can be fun!

Closet Clutter

Closets are great for accumulating clutter, though you may not think of it as clutter. We are talking about extra clothes and shoes – things you rarely wear but cannot bear to be without. Do without these items for a couple of months by putting them in a box, because these items can make your closets look “crammed full.” Sometimes there are shoeboxes full of “stuff” or other accumulated personal items, too.

Furniture Clutter

Many people have too much furniture in certain rooms – not too much for your own personal living needs – but too much to give the illusion of space that a homebuyer would like to see. You may want to tour some builders’ models to see how they place furniture in the model homes. Observe how they place furniture in the models so you get some ideas on what to remove and what to leave in your house.

Storage Area Clutter

Basements, garages, attics, and sheds accumulate not only clutter, but junk. These areas should be as empty as possible so that buyers can imagine what they would do with the space. Remove anything that is not essential and take it to the storage area.

Costs of Repairs

Do not do anything expensive, such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements – do not go charging up credit cards or obtaining new loans. Remember that part of selling a house is also preparing to buy your next home. You do not want to do anything that will affect your credit scores or hurt your ability to qualify for your next mortgage.

Plumbing and Fixtures

When looking at a house, prospective home buyers often do not really know what to do. So they play with things. They flick light switches. They open everything with a handle. They turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets. Having nice shiny fixtures makes an impression.

All your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. If this cannot be accomplished by cleaning, buy new ones. If you don’t buy something fancy, this can be accomplished inexpensively. Make sure all the hot and cold water knobs are easy to turn and that the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers.

It sounds like hard work, but it’s pretty easy — even for the inexperienced.

Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that there are no stains on any of the porcelain. If you have a difficult stain to remove, one trick is to hire a cleaning crew to go through and clean your home on a one-time basis. They seem to be wonderful at making stains go away. Plumbing and Fixtures

Ceilings, Walls and Painting

Check all the ceilings for water stains, whether the leak is caused by plumbing or a faulty roof. Find the leak and repair it and make sure a proper job is done. Nothing irritates a buyer more than finding out - after the fact - about plumbing or roofing leaks. They will be talking about calling a lawyer faster than your car engine starts when you turn the ignition key.

If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. That means painting.

You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.

Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.

Carpet and Flooring

Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is definitely an outdated style or color, you probably should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner. If you do choose to replace it, do so with something inexpensive in a fairly neutral color.

Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself. You want to move. Your goal is simply to have few negative impressions upon those who may want to purchase your property.

If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. That means painting.

You may have to paint anyway, especially if dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new on the inside and never fails to impress.

Painting can be your best investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive operation and often you can do it yourself. Do not choose colors based on your own preferences, but based on what would appeal to the widest possible number of buyers. You should almost always choose an off-white color because white helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.

Windows and Doors

Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily. If not, a spray of WD40 often helps. Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.

Do the same things with the doors – make sure they open and close properly, without creaking. If they do, a shot of WD40 on the hinges usually makes the creak go away. Be sure the doorknobs turn easily, and that they are cleaned and polished to look sharp. As buyers go from room to room, someone opens each door and you want to do everything necessary to create a positive impression.

Odor Control

For those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Actually, it is best to move smoking outside. You could also purchase an ozone spray that helps to remove odors without creating a masking odor.

Apologies to pet owners, but pets come with odors. You may have become used to them, but they are immediately noticeable to those with more finely tuned olfactory senses.

For those with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily and use plenty of baking soda. For dog owners, keep the dog outdoors as much as possible, even those adorable lovable little dogs. You might also try sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis.

The Exterior of the House

Most real estate advice tells you to work on the outside of the house first, but unless there is a major project involved, it is probably best to save it for last. There are two main reasons for this. First, the first steps in preparing the interior of the house are easier. They also help develop the proper mind set required for selling - beginning to think of your “home” as a marketable commodity. Second, the exterior is the most important.

A homebuyer’s first impression is based on his or her view of the house from the real estate agent’s car. They call that first impression “curb appeal.”

So take a walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Look at nearby houses, too, and see how yours compares. Then it may be time to go to work. Landscaping

Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood? If it is not, buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Also, immature trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home.

If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first impression. Do not buy bulbs or seeds and plant them. They will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don’t want a patch of brown earth for homebuyers to view.

Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. If there are problems with your lawn, you should probably take care of them before working on the inside of your home. This is because certain areas may need to be re-sod, and you want to give it a chance to grow so that re-sod areas are not immediately apparent. Plus, you might want to give fertilizer enough time to be effective.

Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.

House Exterior

The big decision is whether to paint or not to paint. When you look at your house from across the street, does it look tired and faded? If so, a paint job may be in order. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers.

When choosing a color, it should not be something garish and unusual, but a color that fits well in your neighborhood. Of course, the color also depends on the style of your house, too. For some reason, different shades of yellow seem to illicit the best response in homebuyers, whether it is in the trim or the basic color of the house.

As for the roof, if you know your roof leaks, repair it. If you do not repair a leaky roof, you are going to have to disclose it and the buyer will want an entire new roof. If you know your roof leaks and you don’t repair it and don’t disclose it, look forward to hearing from lawyers at some point in the future.

Otherwise, wait and see what the home inspector says. Why spend money unnecessarily?

The Back Yard

The back yard should be tidy. If you have a pool or spa, keep it freshly maintained and constantly cleaned. For those that have dogs, be sure to constantly keep the area clear of “debris.” If you have swing sets or anything elaborate for your kids, it probably makes more sense to remove them than to leave them in place. They take up room, and you want your back yard to appear as spacious as possible, especially in newer homes where the yards are not as large.

The Front Door & Entryway

The front door should be especially sharp, since it is the entryway into the house. Polish the door fixture so it gleams. If the door needs refinishing or repainting, make sure to get that done.

If you have a cute little plaque or shingle with your family name on it, remove it. Even if it is just on the mailbox. You can always put it up again once you move. Get a new plush door mat, too. This is something else you can take with you once you move.

Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. When a homebuyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key from the lock box to unlock the door. If there is trouble working the lock while everyone else stands around twiddling their thumbs, this sends a negative first impression to prospective home buyers.