10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable

1.       Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2.       Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3.       Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4.       Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5.       Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6.       Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7.       Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8.       Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9.       Clean your gutters.

10.   Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

DISCLAIMER

John P. Hale is owner and Designated Broker of Touchstone Residential Realty, Inc., 2485 West Tom Watson Drive, Tucson, Arizona 85745.  He has been a residential real estate agent in the greater Tucson Metropolitan area since 2000.  In addition to being licensed as a Broker rather than a salesperson, John holds the following designations awarded by the National Association of REALTORS^®:  ABR – Accredited Buyer Representative, ASR – Accredited Seller Representative, CRS – Certified Residential Specialist, and GRI – Graduate Realtor Institute.  And, John is among the very few that have been named, MRE – Master of Real Estate by the Arizona Association of Real Estate.

Please note that this article was written by him to reflect the author’s opinion of good practice at the time of its’ writing for the general benefit of those considering sale or purchase of residential real estate, it is not intended as definitive legal advice and you should not act upon it as such without seeking independent legal counsel.  Frequent changes in the law and standards of practice may cause this information to become outdated and no longer applicable or even incorrect.