1. No Clutter. Throw out old newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small items like figurines and other trinkets. Store clothing that won’t be used in the near future to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. Buyers like to visualize their possessions in the house and that is hard to do when the ocean home is full of clutter.
2. Wash your windows and screens. Washing the windows will allow more light into the home and will allow buyers to see the beautiful view. Plus, dirty windows are a turn off.
3. Keep everything really clean. Wash fingerprints and dirt from light switch plates. Clean the floors, appliances, dust any furniture. A clean house makes a better first impression and tells buyers that the home has been well cared for.
4. Replace dim and blown light bulbs. Clean any dirty window treatments, i.e. draperies, blinds, etc. The goal is to make the rooms as bright as possible. Arrive early and turn lights on before buyers arrive to see the home.
5. Make all minor repairs that you can find. Everything you don’t repair now will be revealed in the home inspection and can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, cracked receptacle covers or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained. You can also go a step further and get a sellers home inspection to see for yourself what the home inspector will see. You can also market the home as being pre-inspected.
6. Maximize your curb appeal. Cut the grass, rake any leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a couple of bright potted flowers near the entryway to cheer things up and get the buyers attention.
7. Fill cracks and holes in the driveway. Apply a sealant if needed.
8. Clean out any debris in the gutters.
9. Polish or replace your front doorknob and door numbers.
10. Eliminate odors in the home. Clean carpeting and curtains to get rid of unpleasant odors in the home. If the carpet is old, consider replacing it. The added value to the home will likely far outweigh the cost of replacing it. Open the windows. The number one turn off to a potential buyer is an unpleasant odor.
Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an internet listing service that provides Oceanfront Homes For Sale and Ocean Homes For Sale available in the US and Canada.
