http://www.ches-bay.orgSelling your home can be a trying experience, but with a little preparation and a healthy knowledge of what to expect (and what buyers expect), it can be rewarding. Here are just a few tips that we think you will find to be helpful as you prepare your home for sale. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or if we can help in any way.

First Impressions are everything…

Curb Appeal…

• Inspect the entry to your home from the road up the driveway to the front entrance... how does it look? Does it have a neat, manicured appearance?
  • Pull weeds that might be growing in the driveway and flowerbeds.
  • Apply fresh mulch to your flowerbeds, shrubs and trees. A little mulch can go a long way to making your home look inviting and making the grounds attractive.
  • If the season permits, plant a few inviting flowers such as pansies, petunias, begonias or some other annuals to provide a “Pop” of color.
  • If planting flowers isn't your thing, purchase a few decorative flower pots filled with a mix of colorful annuals and place them on the front steps or near the entry to your home.
• Does your home have gutters? If they’re clogged, have them cleaned. Buyers will notice and might interpret clogged gutters to be a maintenance problem for them in the future.
• Place an inviting welcome mat at your front door.

• Clutter makes a home look smaller, even a large home with big rooms can be made to feel small if there’s too much stuff in the home.
• You still need to live in your home, but if possible, try to keep it as neat and clean as possible so that when you get a call from your agent to show the house, you won’t have much to do to be ready.
• A furnished home shows better than an empty one. Some buyers are unable to imagine how to position furniture in a room.
• If you have carpeted floors, have them steam cleaned prior to showing the first time, especially if there are any stains or odors (such as from pets or cigarettes) apparent.
• Repair any broken fixtures, electrical plates, switch covers, door knobs or other items that a buyer would notice as they walk through the house. Any other damaged or malfunctioning items that are not easily noticed but that are known should be repaired promptly or disclosed to any prospective buyers.
• Clean countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and try to keep them neat and uncluttered as much as possible.
• Put out fresh flowers if you know your home will be shown.
• Place scented candles or “plug-ins” in the main rooms of the house, such as the kitchen, living room and master bedroom.
• Nothing makes a house feel more like "Home" than fresh baked cookies! If you have a chance prior to an upcoming showing, bake some chocolate chip cookies in the oven. (Don't forget to turn the oven off before you leave).

Inside – A few tips to help you prepare for showings…

Just like the entry leading up to your front door, the little things inside your home will make a difference when it is being shown to prospective buyers.