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Maximizing Exterior/Interior, Curb Appeal and Some Handy Hints
You don't have to spend a fortune to make your house a showplace. With a little creativity and doing things yourself, you can stretch your dollar and get the "look" you want.
Now is a great time to spruce up your interior, when the cold weather encourages all of us to spend more time inside. Print this list for easy reminders.
 7 Tips to Help You Decorate on a Dime
Before you put your house on the market, take as much time as necessary (and as little money as possible) to increase its exterior and interior appeal.
Remember, making a good first impression can mean the difference between receiving serious offers for your house or being subjected to months of lookie-loos dropping by but never buying.
The following are some tips to enhance your home's exterior and curb appeal: Feel free to print this out so you can use it as a guide when working on your house.
The Yard
Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly.
Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
Keep your garage door closed.
Store RVs or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.
Be sure the outside of your home is tidy and all exterior furniture is clean.
Put away lawn equipment, toys, and other outdoor items.
Stack firewood neatly.
Repair and paint or stain fences.
Repaint all areas where the paint is peeling - this is extremely important if you receive a VA loan offer.
Check exterior surfaces. Make repairs, clean, or paint as needed.
Clean, paint, and repair or realign gutters.
Fix broken windows and screens, then wash.
Wash down the exterior of the house, driveway, and sidewalks.
Fix holes in pavement.
Check the roof and repair loose shingles, or flashing.
Make sure the entry light and doorbell work.
Replace house numbers and welcome mat as needed.
Brighten your landscaping with movable, potted flowers.
Be sure all exterior door handles operate properly.
The Interior Appeal
Enhance your home's interior by.
First and foremost - Put all valuable items away.
Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter.
Discard all unused items to reduce clutter. Although this 'clutter' is of sentimental value to you, it will not be, to the prospective buyer. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
If necessary, repaint dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige.
The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
Repair cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
Replace broken or cracked windowpanes (again, a must for a VA loan offer), moldings, and other woodwork.
Inspect and repair the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
Repair dripping faucets and shower heads.
Buy showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
Spruce up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.
Arrange clothes neatly in closets.
Store a limited amount of items on the floor and overhead shelves.
Leave counter tops countertops as clear as possible.
Clean and organize cupboard interiors.
Check walls for smudges, chipped paint, and torn or loose wallpaper.
Make repairs and paint surfaces in neutral colors.
Clean and organize the basement, attic, and garage.
Launder window treatments and carpets. Replace worn, stained, or smelly carpeting.
Tighten loose doorknobs, switch plates, cabinets, drawer pulls, and the like.
Fix sticking doors and windows, and squeaking floors and steps.
Fix leaky faucets, and remove water stains.
Repair or clean caulking on tubs and sinks.
Replace all lights with higher-wattage bulbs and open all drapes.
Arrange furniture to give an impression of spaciousness in each room.
Keep windows and shades open. Homes generally show better if they are well lit.
Consider repainting rooms with badly worn paint.
Put away any unusual items that may be offensive home buyers homebuyers.
Replace filters on your heating and air-conditioning systems.
Contact me TODAY!
Let me show you the secrets of putting your house on the market. Let me show you how I represent your current home in today's market, and attract qualified buyers.
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Sallyanne Holmes - GRI
A Licensed REALTOR ® in the State of Colorado |
Merit Co Inc
6120 Tutt Blvd
Colorado Springs, CO 80923 |
Cell: (719) 660-0622
Business: (719) 596-7800
Fax: (719) 596-1784 |
Email: Sallyanne@homesforsaleco.com | |