Before you begin any work in the front of the home,
park across the street, look out from your car window, and look at
your home. What strikes your interest first? Is it the beautiful flowers
in the front yard or the weeds growing in the cracks of the sidewalk?
Is your garage door closed? Do you have your garbage cans placed out
front? Are there oil stains in the driveway? Remember, buyers do
not have an imagination and the more "move-in ready" the home is, the
faster it will sell.
Remove any personal or "tacky" items that are
cutesy...such as pink flamingos, artificial flowers or whirligigs. These
items often repel potential buyers rather than attract future home owners.
Remember, you only get one opportunity to make a first impression.
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Lawn and Yard |
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Cut the grass |
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Trim the shrubs / bushes |
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Edge the lawn |
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Rake the rocks |
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Pick up dead leaves and trash caught under
rocks and shrubs |
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Plant flowers |
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Fertilize lawn |
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Reseed bare spots in grass |
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Replace, remove dead plants and shrubs |
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Mend fence |
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Stain backyard gate if it's wooden and you have
block fence |
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Toys and tools picked up and stowed away |
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Old cars, campers and large trash hauled away |
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Trash cans stored away |
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Pet droppings picked up |
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Hoses rolled up or stowed away |
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Prior to an open house, turn on the sprinklers to make the lawn
sparkle |
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Exterior of House |
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Install, replace house numbers |
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Hose down / wash the house |
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Wash exterior windows |
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Fix any cracked or broken windows |
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Fix or mend any torn window screens |
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Fill any cracks/holes in stucco |
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Replace light bulbs in outdoor lights |
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Re-align crooked shutters |
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Clean out gutters and ensure that they drain
away from house |
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Fix any broken or bent gutters |
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Scrape and paint exterior trim |
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Scrape and paint exterior of house |
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Replace missing or broken shingles and roof
tiles |
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Driveway hosed off or swept |
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Walkways hosed off or swept |
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Make sure that there is not any wood to ground
contact around house |
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Front Entryway |
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Fix doorbell |
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Entryway hosed off or swept |
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Entry lights cleaned and polished |
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Front door painted |
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Door trim painted |
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Door knob polished or replaced |
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Floor mats cleaned or replaced |
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Walls cleaned |
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Corners cleared of cobwebs |
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Screen doors mended or replaced |
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Oil front door so that it doesn't squeak |
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Pools, spas, decks and patios |
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Clean pool, spa |
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Make sure pool pump is in working order |
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Check pool filter |
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Check pool cleaning system |
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Fill any cracks in pool decking |
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Stain/paint deck |
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Ensure that deck railing is sturdy |
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Fix any loose or wobbly boards on deck |
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Sweep patio and deck |
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Remove any clutter from patio or deck |
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As we have discussed in other sections, try and
maximize your home's curb appeal. Curb appeal is simply how the
home appears from the street. It is generally the main influence that
compels a potential buyer to want to view the inside of the home.
