Clean up clutter, donate unneeded and unwanted items, clean, wash, rinse and repeat. As the saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression.
As a general rule, rooms should be freshly painted, clean and have just enough furniture in them to let the prospective buyer know what type of room it is, for example, a couch in the living room and a bed in the bedroom. Counter tops in bathrooms and the kitchen should be almost empty and closets should be emptied by a third. Overpacked closets hint of a lack of storage space.
Little fixes are a must. No dripping faucets, no running toilets and no non-working light fixtures. If the tub needs caulking, do it!
Garden beds should be weed free, grass mowed and fresh bark applied to flowerbeds if possible. Roofs and gutters should be cleaned.
For extra points, there are two additional unpleasant tasks:
- If your home has a crawlspace, go under the home and clean our any refuse or signs of rodents. Make sure any point to entry for rats or mice is closed off and that the plastic covering the grounds is spread out and not ripped. Any insulation that is damaged or sagging should be repaired or replaced.
- Go up in your attic and look for mold or voids in insulation. If you are comfortable making corrections, do so, If not, hire a qualified tradesperson to remedy.
If this sounds like a lot of work, it will be, however, it will also improve your chances of selling and of selling for more money.
If you would like some help in this process, lets schedule a time for a visit. Fresh eyes will help prioritize projects and help you “get the most bang for your buck”.
Olympia Real Estate Blog 