| When you get ready to sell your home, it's important to | | | | and make sure the front door is nicely painted and |
| make it sparkle, especially when compared to your | | | | opens easily without creaking. If the paint is peeling on |
| neighbors' houses. Every real estate agent knows that | | | | the outside of your home, especially the windows and |
| well-polished houses not only sell faster, but they also | | | | doors, it's time to repaint with a color that attracts your |
| sell for higher prices. | | | | buyer's profile. |
| When planning the "spruce up" strategy for your home, | | | | If there are shingles missing, they should be replaced, |
| you'll first want to consider how much you want to | | | | but don't put on a new roof unless it's absolutely |
| spend, and then how much of that money to allocate | | | | necessary; you'll rarely recoup such a major expense. |
| to the outside and the inside in order to help sell your | | | | If the driveway is covered with oil stains, there are |
| home the most quickly and for the best price. | | | | some good products that can remove them without a |
| How much should you spend? The answer is simple: | | | | great deal of cost. |
| as little as possible. The idea is to make your home | | | | Inside, go through each room, doing a thorough cleaning |
| shine by addressing areas that will make a good | | | | and removing clutter. Have a friend walk through with |
| impression on buyers, without spending money you | | | | you, telling you what catches their eye, because you |
| won't be able to recoup at sale time. Generally, that | | | | may have grown accustomed to things that will create |
| means a serious clean-up, inside and out. Then, | | | | a negative impression in the minds of prospective |
| depending upon your budget, you can make relatively | | | | buyers. If rooms need paint, repaint them, using colors |
| inexpensive (but often dramatic) upgrades, such as | | | | that you know your buyers will love. |
| paint, new knobs for kitchen cabinets, or new towel | | | | Pay special attention to bathrooms and the kitchen. If |
| racks in the bathroom. | | | | the floor looks old and worn in the kitchen, new |
| On the outside, make sure your home looks nice from | | | | linoleum tiles are easy to install and can instantly give |
| the street, since that's the first impression every buyer | | | | old kitchens new sparkle. Repair or replace any |
| will have. Keep the lawn mowed and the sidewalks | | | | dripping faucets--another relatively inexpensive repair |
| edged. That's important, and doesn't cost anything | | | | that can pay big dividends. |
| extra, since you'd be doing that whether your home | | | | You don't have to spend a lot of money to get your |
| was for sale or not. Plant a few annual flowers along | | | | home ready to sell, but you do want to make it as |
| the walkway and around the house. They'll add a | | | | attractive as you can (without spending a lot) if you |
| touch of hominess and color, and make a good | | | | want to sell it quickly--and at the highest possible price. |
| impression on buyers. | | | | Copyright 2006 Jeanette J. |
| Keep flower gardens and shrubbery well-maintained, | | | | |