Before putting your house on the
market, take time to maximize its
exterior and interior appeal.
MAXIMIZING EXTERIOR AND CURB APPEAL
MAXIMIZING INTERIOR APPEAL
From experience, Realtors know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will usually sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel better about purchasing a well cared for house because if what they can see is maintained, what they can't see has probably been maintained as well.

In getting your house ready for sale, consider how much you should spend. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive improvements to your house, and doing extensive and costly renovations. Your Realtor, who is familiar with buyers expectations, can advise you specifically on what improvements should be made to make your house more saleable.

Of all the rooms inside your house, pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. They should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free.

Since you want your house to look as spacious as possible, remove any excess or very large furniture. Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are neat and free of clutter. Don't use your garage, attic, or basement to store these extra things. These areas also need to have the impression of space. Instead, put them into storage, or since you are anticipating a move anyhow, having a garage sale at this point is a great idea.

Buyers expect everything in their new house to operate safely and properly. Picky buyers definitely will notice and likely magnify minor maintenance problems you've ignored for months or even years. The repairs may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question whether you've taken good care of your house.

· Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly
· Trim hedges and trees, weed lawns and flowerbeds
· Apply a fresh coat of paint if needed
· Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks or crumbling
· Inspect doors and windows for cracks or broken seals in glass or peeling paint, repair any torn screens
· Wash windows
· Clean and align guttering
· Clean exterior lighting fixtures
· Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles
· Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking
· Sweep the porch, patio and walkways and keep clear of any ice or snow
· Rinse or power wash areas where needed, pay special attention to entries
· Season permitting, consider planting flowers or landscape if needed
· Store toys, bicycles, skates, gardening equipment, and the like out of sight.
· Keep your garage door closed
· Be sure your front door has a "Welcome" feeling. A fresh coat of paint on the front door always looks great!
· Walk up to your house as if you have never seen it before. What do you notice? How do you feel about it? Would you want to buy this house? Look at your house from the buyers point of view, be objective.
 · Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning
· If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige.
· Repair dripping faucets or showerheads
· Caulk bathtubs and showers where needed
· Replace any burned out light bulbs and consider using brighter bulbs
· Clean out the fireplace and place logs in it to make it look inviting
· Check ceilings for stains, fix the cause of the damage, repair and paint the ceiling
· Clean or replace carpet if necessary
· Lubricate any sticky or squeaky doors
· Clean windows and window sills
· Clean light fixtures and bulbs
· Replace filters and clean all ventilation grills
· Be sure heat system, water heater and attic are accessable
· Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely sensitive to offensive odors. To eliminate bad smells, you can place open boxes of baking soda, or some other fragrant treatment in smell-prone areas. Fresh flowers are a great way to introduce a pleasing smell and make a room feel bright and inviting.