Steve & Carol Bush

Exterior of your property known as "curb appeal"

• Mowing your lawn and keeping your flowers watered will give a fresh and clean look to your property.
• Make sure the lawn equipment, toys, and vehicles are stored out-of-sight if at all possible. You don't want any distractions for a potential buyer.
• Depending on the amount of work involved, any painting or touch-up work can pay big dividends.

Inside the home

• The neater the interior, the easier it is for a buyer to visualize their furniture in the home, as well as in living there. Get rid of any clutter.
• Make sure the bathrooms and kitchen are clean.
• A buyer will look in the closets, so keep them neat.
• Keep the windows clean. You want the buyer to look out and be able to see the view without smudges on the glass.

What to fix

• When a buyer has made an accepted offer, he will have an opportunity for a building inspection. Anything broken or not working properly may need to be fixed to the buyer's satisfaction. Getting things fixed before hand makes the selling process easier.
• Fix leaky faucets inside and outside.
• Replace anything missing or broken such as doors, windows, or appliances.

Other thoughts

• The odor of cigarette smoke in a house can be a turnoff for many people. If you smoke, using an air freshener and opening the house to the outside air can help minimize the smell.
• Make sure that you have all ash trays, litter boxes, and all trash removed and concealed before the house is shown.
• Fresh flowers and scented candles add a pleasant touch for showings.