With Spring coming, more homes will be going on the market. This past month has been incredibly busy for me with new listings. I have come up with some basic things that need to be done if you want to put your home on the market.
- Clean, clean and clean, yes even windows and baseboards.
- Stand at the curb and see how your house looks. If there are leaves or debris in the street in front of your house, clean it up. Pick up the dead branches laying in your yard. Sweep the front steps, remove the cigarette butts, straighten that hanging shutter and put it back in place.
- The front door needs to look good. Clean it and if necessary paint it. Are your house numbers clean and visible?
- If your house key sticks in the door, spray some WD-40 into the lock and work the key in and out. If the agent showing your house has to struggle just to open the door, it doesn't leave a good impression.
- While you have that WD-40 out, spray the hinges of creaky doors. Don't forget the hinges on the iron fence. It shouldn't sound like Halloween at your house with creaky and squeaky noises.
- This is so basic, but it needs to be said again. De-clutter and then de-clutter again. You get one chance to make a first impression. Make it a good one.
- List your home with an agent when it is ready to be shown. If you have showings and it isn't ready to be seen, you may turn off a buyer. They will rarely come back after you have cleaned up.
- Is the siding of your home clean? It's time to pressure wash and make it shine.
- Don't forget the roof and gutters. If there is debris on the roof and leaves overflowing out of the gutters, I can almost guarantee a less than favorable offer, if you get one. There is a licensed and insured company here in Atlanta that cleans gutters for $110. It's well worth it.
- If you are having a hard time seeing your house like a buyer would, get out your digital camera. Walk around your house and take photos. Look at them through the critical eyes of a buyer. If you see something you don't like, fix it or remove it. Now when your agent takes photos, you'll like how they look too.
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If you are thinking of buying or selling a home, contact local expert Jen Bowman, Realtor and Broker Associate with Success Realty serving the real estate needs of Decatur and Metro Atlanta, GA. 404-456-5024
Search for Homes in Cobb County, GA including Smyrna, Vinings, Marietta, Acworth, Powder Springs at www.HomesforSaleinCobbCounty.com.
Search for Homes in Dekalb County, GA including Decatur, Atlanta, Dunwoody, Tucker, Stone Mountain, Avondale Estates, Lithonia, & Ellenwood at www.DekalbHomeSearch.com.
Search for Atlanta's Luxury Homes including Cobb, Fulton, Dekalb and Gwinnett at LuxuryHomesGA.com
Realtor Jen Bowman has been featured on HGTV's My First Place, HGTV's Buying and Selling 20 Best Kept Secrets & Inman News - where real estate and technology connect. She is a proud member of Keller Williams Realty Atlanta Partners Agent Leadership Council. Jen is also a member of Keller Williams Realty Luxury Home Division, catering to luxury home buyers and sellers. Call or text 404-456-5024 today to get started buying your dream home in Dekalb or Cobb, selling your current home in Dekalb or Cobb, or learning more about an awesome career in real estate.
