Listing Triangle™ - Front Street Brokers | Page 16

Clean up and organize wood piles and other working areas around the house.
Next, take a good look at the house itself and check the roof, gutters,
downspouts, trim, shutters, windows and siding. If anything is weathered,
loose or in disrepair, or has chipping or peeling paint, now is the time to fix
and/or paint it. Do the same for patios, decks and porches and other exterior
structures.
Now take a good look at the yard and garden. Start by taming any
unruly trees or shrubs. If you have overgrown plants or trees, they will block
buyers’ view of your home. There is an old adage in real estate: “If you can’t
see it, you can’t sell it!” Prune or remove plants that are blocking the view
from the street or are covering windows or the walkway. Keep the garden
weeded and put down fresh mulch or wood chips.
Add plantings to the front of the house to build focus on your front
door if you have a centered entrance, or to visually balance the front of the
house if your entrance is off to a side. You do not have time to wait for the
flowers to bloom, so buy mature plants or flowers during their blooming cycle
now. Plantings leading up to the front door creates a dramatic effect as they
draw the eye up the lawn and onto the house.
Seed or fertilize the lawn and water liberally, and keep the lawn mowed
and edged. Nothing shows off a home like a lush green lawn. Schedule to
have the lawn mowed often.
Exterior paint can do wonders for curb appeal, even if it’s just touching
up the trim around the house. If the home has not been painted in many years,
we highly recommend getting some bids to have it updated. Be sure to read
below recommendations about paint color. Nothing says this home is “well
cared for” then a professional paint job on the exterior.
Don’t forget front door of the house. This is really where the house
will say “Welcome! Come on in!” The door should be clean and painted if
necessary, hinges oiled, door handle polished. Make sure all outdoor light
fixtures are clean and in working order, and replace burned out light bulbs. A
new and neutral welcome mat at the door, along with a pot or two of colorful
flowers will impress buyers before they even enter the house.
Inside the Home:
The first priority is to finish any lingering projects around the home.
Damaged walls, leaking faucets, mildew in the shower, damaged doors or
closets, etc. This is not the time to learn new skills, so bring in handyman or
professionals if necessary.
Let There Be Light!
Buyers today want lots of light in their home, and a brighter house
looks bigger and can actually look “happier”. Start by looking at your window
The Listing Triangle™
Page 15