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You can start with the front door. Is it clean? Has
it been painted recently? Are there any
seasonal decorations present that will invite
people into your home? As a rule of thumb,
make sure all doors open smoothly. Your
prospective buyers will notice little annoying
things like that. Get them fixed.
Always set the stage with colorful flowers and
plants. Don’t settle for a stale entryway or porch.
Sometimes a seasonal wreath, pumpkin, or
flower pot can spruce up your entryway. Try to
use plants with strong and earthy aromas like
pine.
Replace your old, dingy doormat. Go ahead
and buy a doormat that says “Welcome Home.”
It’s a subtle psychological suggestion that tells
your buyers they need not look any further.
Your buyers want to see what they can do with
your home. Accessories, lighting, and color can
make all the difference. No detail is too small to
consider. When setting the stage in a room, do your
homework. Attend a few professionally run open
houses and jot down some ideas.
Open books on coffee tables, fresh logs for the fire,
and baskets of fruit in the kitchen all set the stage
for a homey environment. Use them where
appropriate.
Do everything you can to allow more light into your
rooms. If you have heavy curtains, consider
replacing them with something more transparent
like white veneer blinds. Clean all of your windows,
and add lamps or other lighting to dark corners of
your house. Double check all light fixtures, and
make sure they are clean.
Window and screens should be completely in
tact and hole free. Don’t let your buyer think of
things that need to be replaced. The imaginary
expenses add up too quickly.
Check your locks to make sure they open
smoothly and work properly. You want to
remove any potential annoyances. Getting
stuck on a lock is hardly any fun, and your buyers
will remember it.
Have a look over your roof, and clear out your
gutter. Spot loose shingles and get them
replaced. You might not think people see it, but
they do.
I’ll say it again. Wash the outside of every
window and replace any broken ones.
Shattered glass or broken window seals are a
huge turn off.
Give Your Buyer A Lush Green Yard
Give your buyers an idea of what it will be like to