• DO DECLUTTER
You know you are going to move so, start packing early! I recommend having 3 piles:
1. I love it and I’m gonna “Keep it” pile
2. Probably never gonna use it again so, let’s “Donate It” pile
3. Ugh! No one is gonna want this; it’s just “Garbage” pile.
Start cleaning out and packing drawers, closets, the basement/garage, books, extra clothes, toys, dishes, etc. You’ll be happy you started early! Things tend to multiply in dark places.
• DO REMOVE
Valuable items and safely store them in a safe deposit box, home safe or a locked drawer/closet. Larger items can be kept with a friend or relative. Valuable items include precious jewelry, coin collections, paintings, check books, bank statements, cameras, etc. Realtors are licensed professionals who accompany all Buyer appointments but, I recommend playing it safe.
• DO PAINT
Living in our home, we become indifferent to dings, scratch marks, hand prints and overall dirt on our walls and baseboards. A fresh coat of paint eliminates these and will freshen the home up visually and help remove old odors. Neutral paint colors are recommended such as warm grays, greens, creams and blues. Bright colors such as turquoise, yellows and reds, tend to be undesirable to a Buyer. Sellers ask me if they should re-hang pictures or decorative items once the home has been painted, I say “No”. The home has been neutralized and a good painter will patch the nail holes so the Buyer can start fresh with a blank wall.
• DO FIX
All minor repairs such as a leaking toilet, broken tiles, sliding doors, cabinet doors or drawer which do not close, scratched floors, etc. The Buyer can ask for $$$ to fix, repair or correct the defective items from the Seller. Repairing the items before the home is listed will save the Seller $$$. A Buyer will notice the home has been well maintained by the Seller and an offer usually comes quicker. I recommend to my Sellers, that they have a Home Inspection completed on the home by a licensed Home Inspector prior to listing the home. Hidden defects can by discovered and corrected by the Seller.
• DO WASH
Your windows, inside and out. This allows natural sunlight to stream into the home and Buyers can view the outdoors, clearly versus trying to see their new yard while navigating around finger prints, smears of dog drool, spider webs and dirt. I also recommend washing door & cabinet handles, stair railings, light switch plates. There’s nothing more unappealing when a door is opened by the Buyer and they’ve touched something sticky. Ick!
• DO REPLACE
Any broken fixtures or light bulbs. This includes faucets, door knobs, light fixtures, garage door openers, etc. Again, the Buyer will recognize the fact the Seller has maintained and taken care of the home and an offer usually comes sooner and close to the list price.
• DO NEUTRALIZE
Your home, pack away family photos, unique art, awards, certificates, etc. When Buyers enter a home, they try to envision how the home will work for them and their family. If a home has too many items of distraction, it is hard for Buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.
The Spring Real Estate Market is quickly approaching. The typical time frame to prepare a home
for the Real Estate market can range from a few weeks to several months. If you would like to know what your home’s worth is, please give me a call for a complimentary consultation.
~Pam, Residential Realtor in Illinois
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