Preparing Your Property to Sell

After you have made the decision to sell your home it is important that you spend the proper amount of time and money preparing your home for prospective purchasers. Blue Property can help you. As the old saying goes, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Consider the fact that most prospective purchasers will make their initial decision regarding their interest in your home based on a showing of 15 to 20 minutes, and the importance of preparing your home for sale quickly proves important. The following list of recommended chore and task should be completed prior to the first showing of your home.

Assembling important selling information

It is very important to gather any pertinent information that you might have relevant to the selling of your home. Assembling the following information prior to meeting with real estate agents will enable you to provide your perspective agent with a clear picture of the pros and cons of your home.

• Age of property.
• Closing documents from purchase of the home.
• Construction information (recent rehabs, with, etc.).
• Square footage and room dimensions.
• Lot size.
• Property taxes.
• Annual heating costs.
• Mechanical systems (age and inclusions).
• Terms of existing mortgage.

Your agent will be much more effective if the marketing effort is a partnership between the two of you. Providing your agent with useful information in a timely manner will assist your agent in obtaining the highest price for your home in the timeliest manner.

Inside the Home

Holes, cracks and damaged walls and ceilings should be repaired.
All windows should be operational and broken glass should be replaced.
Look for and repair all leaks, drips and clogs in plumbing.
Attic and roof should be inspected the potential damage.
Cleanup all clutter and debris in open areas, as well as in basements, attics and closets.
Touch up paint where necessary, and strongly consider a fresh coat of neutral colored paint throughout your home.
Clean all carpets and rugs.
Have the furnace and air conditioning systems cleaned and serviced.
Called around all sinks, tubs and showers.
Wash down all kitchen appliances and clean the oven and microwave.
Label all circuits/fuses for electric systems.
Replace all burnt out light bulbs so your home is bright for showings.

Outside the Home

Repair loose or missing shingles for roof.
Inspect structure and chimney to see if tuck pointing is necessary.
Fresh coat of paint or stain for front door and /or exterior of home..
Inspect flashings around chimneys, skylights, and rooftops.
Clean windows - inside and out.