Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 6 | Page 23

FALL MARKET
greenbook
J. Melvin Premier properties

Don't spook buyers with
a house that looks haunted.
By Suzanne De Vita

In the fall market, home selling is right up there
with pumpkin carving, hay rides and trick-ortreating. The change of season ushers in a number
of well-intentioned buyers (and fewer Looky-Lous)
seeking the services of a real estate professional.
Sellers, Halloween is your holiday!
With the most terrifying time of year fast
approaching, the last thing you want to do is
spook buyers with a home that looks like the
House on Haunted Hill or something out of a
ghost town. Before putting your home on the
market, rid your digs of these horrifying
features.
Neglected yard. Ever see someone mowing the
lawn of a haunted house? Didn’t think so. Over
grown greenery (or brown-ery) is a sure sign of
an abandoned abode. Maintain your landscaping
and clear your yard of leaves before a showing.
Smashed windows. Unlike haunted houses, you
probably don’t have razor-like shards of glass
protruding from the windows of your home. But
are they drafty? Use weatherstripping or caulk to
seal cracks, or consider replacing them altogether.
Foul odors. Your house (hopefully!) isn’t home
to anything decomposing, but you may be
unaware of the distinct smells emanating from
your garbage can. Remove trash and eliminate
musty, stale air by opening the windows.
Peeling paint. Dated wallpaper and worn-out
paint are staples in haunted houses. If your wall
treatment is chipped, cracked or peeling, it’s time

for an update. Scrub your walls, patch any holes
and roll on a fresh coat of paint in a ghostly neutral
shade.
Creaky floors. Ghouls creep through haunted
homes, making the floors creak and sending
panicked visitors running out the door. Ensure the
walkthrough is painless by repairing unwelcome
sounds with the help of a licensed handyman.
Cobwebs. Nothing screams haunted more than
dust, grime and filth. Creepy-crawlers seem to
love dirt, too, and pests are a serious turn-off for
anyone, buyer or not. If you suspect a problem, call
up the Orkin man to have it rectified immediately.
Junk piles. Is it just me, or are the spirits
possessing haunted homes hoarders, too? Add a
sense of spaciousness to your home by de-cluttering every nook and ܘ[