Outside the House
First impressions begin when the buyers pull up out in front,
and you want things to look their best before anyone even gets
out of the car. Here are some suggestions to get you started.
Repair
walkways and driveways
Fix cracks in bricks, concrete, and asphalt.
Use a commercial cleaner to remove stains from concrete
driveways - and from the floor of the garage while you're at it.
Consider an application of asphalt sealer over asphalt driveways.
Remove weeds and debris, and edge the lawn where needed. Make sure
that any steps are safe and clean, and that handrails are in place,
solid, and in good repair.
Spruce up the paint job
Scrape and repaint
any areas of siding where the paint is peeling. Re-caulk windows
and doors, and consider
a complete fresh coat of paint on exterior trim and doors. If the
house is badly in need of a complete repainting, give some serious
thought to making the investment. Some people opt to offer a discount
to the buyer to cover the paint job, but bad exterior paint makes
a terrible impression, and may lead some people to question other
aspects of the home's maintenance and overall quality.
Fix the roof
Replace missing shingles, and repair any loose or missing
flashings or vent screens. Repair or replace damaged or
missing gutters and downspouts. If the old roof has deteriorated
beyond repair, consider replacing it, bearing in mind the same
rationale as repainting.
Fix windows and doors
Replace missing
or damaged window screens and screen doors. Check the operation
of each door and door lock
to ensure nothing sticks or hangs up. Pay particular attention
to the front door, front sidelights, and any screen or storm door
on the front.
Find out which repairs and home improvement projects
will bring a positive return on your investment, before you hire
a contractor
or spend time on do it yourself fix-up. Use the
Home
Sale Maximizer to help you decide where to spend money to
increase the value of your home and property.
The following articles are some examples of getting your home
ready for sale;
Outside
the House
Inside
the House 
