A house that shines on the surface will sell faster than its neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained. From experience, we know that a clean and polished house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, I have found that buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, what they can't see has probably also been maintained.

Three of the Most Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Getting Your Home Ready...

1. How Much Should We Spend

In preparing your home for the market spend as little as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinet and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.

2. If Curb Appeal is so Important How Can We Maximize it?
Before putting your house on the market, take as much time as necessary and as little money as possible to maximize its exterior and interior appeal.

Enhance your home' s exterior and curb appeal by:
Trim hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and pruning trees regularly
Check the foundation and all outside concrete for cracks and crumbling
Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint
Clean and align gutters
Inspect and clean chimney
Repair and replace loose or broken roof shingles
Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking
Keep sidewalks clear of snow and ice
Brighten the front door with pots of colorful flowers
Re-seal an asphalt driveway
Keep your garage door closed
Stow RV's and other vehicles somewhere else while home is on the market
Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door

3. What about our Interior?

Enhance your home' s interior by:
Give every room in the whole house a thorough cleaning as well as removing all clutter
If you are busy elsewhere, hiring a cleaning service to come in every few weeks is also a good idea
Clear kitchen countertops as much as possible
Repaint walls if needed and paint brightly colored walls with a neutral paint
Repair cracks, holes or damage to drywall, wallpaper, paint and tiles
Replace broken or cracked windows, moldings and other woodwork
Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems
Repair dripping faucets and showerheads
Buy showy new towels for bathrooms for showing purposes only
Spruce up kitchen with new cabinet knobs and/or a fresh coat of neutral paint

Preparing for Showings

• So that the "on the market" period is less stressful and disruptive, design a plan whereby your family can pick up the house in 15 minutes
• Leave all the lights on. Lights add a different dimension to your interior and make the house feel brighter and "alive"
• If you have a stereo, leave nice background music on and turned low
• Fragrant devices such as candles or potpourri help to create a refreshing smell. Smell is one of our strongest senses, use it to your advantage!
• Many people love pets but they can be a distraction. Create a plan to keep them out of the way.
• Leave the house! Even it is just for a walk. Buyers don't feel free and comfortable to truly look at the home with the sellers present. Most importantly, a savvy buyer knows how to make the right statements and pose the right questions that may jeopardize your ne­gotiating power. Leave that to us!