WAYS TO
PREPARE YOUR
HOUSE FOR SALE
In the market to sell your home? Follow these tips on
how to optimize the home-selling process.
• Make sure your landscaping is appealing to the eye
and aligns with the season.
• Add shrubs, plants or flowers to line the front of your
home to add curb appeal.
• Use a power washer or a hose attachment sprayer to
clean the exterior of your home.
• Clean out gutters and wash windows.
• Make repairs to screens, leaks, and broken windows
where possible.
• A fresh coat of paint on the front door, a new
welcome mat and an inviting entrance can give a
great first impression.
• Add or refresh house numbers to make them visible
from the curb.
• Make the entryway valuable by adding a simple coat
rack if there isn’t a closet.
• Remove shoes, bags, coats and excess furniture from
the entryway.
• Make sure the view from the entryway is clear into all
visible rooms.
• Remove oversized furniture and organize remaining
furniture to make the room look as large as possible.
• Leave just enough furniture in each room to show
the purpose of the room.
• Depersonalize rooms by removing photographs of
family, personal sayings and artwork.
• Open curtains and blinds to allow as much natural
light in as possible.
• Leave countertops clear of small appliances and
wipe them down.
• Clean out cabinets, refrigerator and pantry to allow
for a roomy look.
• Clean carpets and flooring before showing
your home.
• Clean mirrors, countertops and sink bowls.
• Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
• Close your toilet lid.
• Hang fresh towels in the bathrooms in neutral colors.
• Eliminate harsh odors with natural scents or
by adding fresh flowers or baking a batch of
cookies (Yum!).
• Paint rooms with neutral colors to appeal to
more buyers.
• Declutter closets by removing half of your clothes,
giving the illusion of more space.
• Clear out the garage as much as possible to leave
extra room for cars.
• Sit back and get ready for some offers!
28
724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE
❘
icmags.com
insurance (PMI) if you are unable to put 20 percent down on
your home.
3. BUYING:
Getting an inspection can save you money in
the long run.
Inspection fees can range from $300-$500, allowing some
to think they can save money by avoiding an inspection. In
almost all instances, this is false. Many issues in a home may
go unseen by the untrained eye. If an inspector reveals defects
not disclosed by the seller, you are able to negotiate a new offer
or rescind altogether. Without an inspection, these potentially
costly issues would ultimately fall on the buyer’s shoulders.
4. BUYING:
Protect yourself!
It’s easy to get wrapped up in signing papers and lose sight
of what you are agreeing to when buying a home. Fortunately,
contingency clauses can protect you from losing what is yours.
An example is a mortgage-financing contingency; if you lose
your job or your loan falls through, you’ll get your “earnest
money” back in full. Otherwise, you may be obligated to follow
through with purchasing a house you can no longer afford.
5. BUYING:
Enjoy the view?
It’s obvious that homes with a view can sell big. In fact,
Realtor.com states that homes with a view of the city sell the
fastest, with an average of 83 days on the market, while homes
with an ocean view sit for 98 days (mostly due to the elevated
price of oceanfront property). If you are in love with a home
with a view, be sure it is there to stay. Although you may see
rolling hills through your living room window now, who’s to
say a real estate developer won’t see that same space as the