Curb Appeal Basics: What to do Before Listing Your Home For Sale
The condition of the home's exterior and how well it fits in with the neighborhood is the first thing that buyers see when they arrive at a property. Homes that are in good condition may sell more quickly and for a higher profit. Performing exterior maintenance before listing a home for sale can help homeowners maximize their profits.
Fix the Fence
Check the fence around the perimeter of the home for broken parts, rust, bare wood or rotten wood. Rotten wood will be stained and/or gray in color, and can easily be penetrated with the tip of a screw driver or an awl.
To find out if the fence needs to be restained, spray it down with a hose. The water should bead up on the surface off the wood and roll off. If the wood absorbs the water, this means the fence needs a new coat of stainer and sealer. If the wood is painted, check the paint for bubbles and peeling areas. Perform touch ups as needed.
Clean or Refinish the Deck
Clean the deck with a pressure washer. Look for areas where the wood is stained or gray in color, then use a screw driver or an awl to check for rotten wood. Replace the bad wood with new boards made from the same type of wood, then spray down the deck with a hose. Just like with the wooden fence, water sprayed on the deck should bead up and sit on the surface of the wood without soaking in. If the water soaks into the wood, the deck needs to be refinished.
Edge the Yard
Edging the yard with an edger or a weed wacker can help keep the lawn looking trim and well contained. After edging the yard, sweep away all the dirt and grass on the walkway around the house. Don’t leave organic debris laying around the lawn or on the sidewalk, as this leaves the house looking messy and unkempt.
Trim Down Overgrown Bushes
Overgrown bushes can develop scraggly, unhealthy growth. Bushes planted in front of windows can even block the entrance of light into the house, making it unpleasantly dark inside. Use a sharp pair of pruning sheers to cut back overgrown bushes. This encourages the bushes to develop lush, healthy growth.
Lay Down Mulch
Mulch helps to control weeds, keep in moisture, shade roots and gives the garden a more uniform appearance. Pull weeds from your garden, then lay down mulch on your garden beds in between flowers. Use the same type of mulch in each garden bed to bring uniformity to the space.
Clean the Gutters
Gutters filled with leaves will overflow during storms, which can lead to big puddles of standing water around your house. Should a buyer show up in a rain storm, overflowing gutters will be a noticeable problem. In addition, puddles left on the lawn after a storm may lead the buyer to believe that the lawn suffers from bad drainage. Cleaning the gutters before putting the house up for sale can ensure this isn’t a problem.
Clean the Siding
Dirt on the siding can hide the true color of your home and can make your house seem less vibrant and beautiful. Clean the siding with a strong jet of water from a hose. For very dirty areas, use a long handled scrub brush and warm water. Use warm water mixed with oxygenated bleach to clean away mildew or mold.
Ask Your Real Estate Agent for Advice
Your real estate agent may have other suggestions for ways to prepare your home for sale. Performing exterior maintenance before putting the house on the market can help make the selling process a smoother and more satisfying experience – even in a hot real estate market like Egret Landing. Talk to your real estate agent before it’s time to list your property.