TIPS FOR THE HOMEOWNER
I've put together a few suggestions to help your home look it's best; which will bring a lot of visibility to your home & make the session go quickly.
Lets get started:
There are large adjustments that can be made and then there are little things.
Let's start small
It's time to pack up those little things. The first thing a potential buyers wants to do when they walk through your door is to be able to see themselves living there & by removing your personal items such as photos, monograms, & any religious emblems, will help them do so. Unless you have a garage that has become a man cave, storing any items in the garage temporarily is ok as I don't photograph there or in smaller closets.
Next, clean off your counter tops in your bathrooms and the kitchen. Yes, you may use your coffee maker every day & even your hairspray, but by having as much counter space cleared will showcase the space & not deter the eye from the overall view of the room.
Remove any large hanging towels & pull up any small area rugs in both the kitchen & bathrooms. I will open the shower curtains halfway to see the tile, tub, etc. so please put away soaps & shampoo bottles.
Replace any burnt bulbs & put bulbs in open receptacles. Plug in lamps & make sure they have bulbs as well.
Tidy up your laundry room. It's easy to store a lot of bulk items but it's a room that gets photographed as well & needs to look its best.
Your primary closet might get a snapshot so tidy the clothes, shoes & put away any valuables. Remember, these photos are going on the internet. (We can also skip the primary closet if you prefer.)
Mow your yard, lay out some landscape mulch, trim the bushes & cut the lower limbs from nearby trees above the base of the roof line. We want to be able to see your house, the windows, & doors.
Remove anything from the driveway such as an unused car, trailer, & trash cans.
Now, onto the BIG things!
(These *may* also help bring up the value in your home!)
Paint. Bring all the main rooms & halls to a neutral color: white, gray, or beige. If all four walls of the small rooms are bold or bright colors, bring those to a neutral pallet as well or maybe leave an accent wall.
Flooring. Your thought may be that you'll leave an allowance for new flooring but if your flooring has not been taken care of or if it has, but is still stained, it tells a potential home buyer that you don't care, which could translate to the rest of the house, wondering what else was not maintained, although that may not be the truth. It's all about perception upon the potential buyers first look.
Landscaping. Although this has been mentioned as a "little thing" , going above & beyond by pulling up weeds, removing dead trees or bushes will help too. Plant a few annuals for a pop of color & clear away any empty pots or debris. Check your fence too. Repair or replace any posts or pickets that are missing or broken. And how about the mailbox? If it's posted at the street, make sure it's upright & stable with updated numbers or lettering. If mounted on the wall, dust it off & if it needs a new coat of paint, a can of spray paint is an inexpensive fix, along with some updated house numbers.
House Paint & Trim. Replace any rotten boards & update the paint and trim, including around the doors & windows. And for a fun pop of color, pick a complimentary color for the front door.
I know, you're probably thinking, "If I do all that, then I won't want to move!" But you will & you'll be glad that you not only put time and effort into your home to improve it for photos, but possibly a bump in its value too.
We'll see you soon & always welcome questions.
Origina Post February 1, 2021
