Prepare your home for sale

 Here are some quick tips on how to prepare your home for sale this Spring.
 

 1. Clean, Clean, Clean

Did I mention cleaning? A clean house makes all the difference. You always want to give would be buyers the impression that your home has been well cared for, and nothing says that better than a clean home. If it's within your budget, consider hiring a professional cleaning service. It's a good idea to keep an eye out for Spring Cleaning deals on social media and group buy websites like Living Social and Groupon. It's very important to get rid of any funky smells or pet odors. Chances are you will have visitors with allergies visit your home. Unfortunately not everyone is an animal lover, and if you own a dog or cat, consider boarding them with a friend or relative while your house is being marketed.

Be sure to open the windows up and air out your home on a nice spring day. Also, steam clean your carpeting and drapes to eliminate any leftover odors. Wax your hardwood floors, mop the tiles, and clean the windows. Clean your bathrooms from top to bottom! You'll never get a second chance to make a first impression, make it count. 

2.  Make a list of recent home improvements

Maybe you had the windows replaced a few years ago? A new roof after that big winter storm? New furnace? It's always a good idea of keeping receipts and document upgrades made to your home. This will give potential buyers peace of mind that he or she does not have to worry about spending more money later down the road. If nothing else, the buyer will appreciate that the home was well cared for while you owned it. Buyers tend to care more about the big ticket items like a furnace, roof, windows, deck maintenance, well and septic maintenance etc.
 

3. Inspect your home

Another thing to consider is having a pre-sale home inspection performed. Check with your Real Estate Agent, he or she will probably be able to recommend a few local inspectors in your area. For a few hundred bucks, an inspector will bring any potential issues to your attention, that may steer potential buyers away from your listing. It's a good idea to take care of the all minor repairs that you can afford prior to putting your home on the market. For example fixing torn screens, caulking, dripping faucets and painting a fence are all things that you can do on your own to save a buck. Consider updating any old or gritty kitchen appliances. If you encounter repairs which you can't afford to fund, it's a great idea to get estimates for the work ahead of time. This will help you make an educated counter offer, should your buyer request seller contributions towards the repairs.

 4. Track down Warranties and Manuals

Track down any warranties, guarantees, and user manuals to your major appliances. You will want documentation handy on your furnace, air conditioning unit, washer, dryer, dishwasher, and any other item which may convey with the sale of your house. If your heating and air conditioning units have service and maintenance contracts on them, you may want to include that as well.

 5. Get rid of all the clutter

Keep your home as neutral and simple as possible, clear your kitchen counters of any mail and everything else. Clean out your closets, donate any un-needed items to good will, salvation army, your church or your charity of choice. (It will save you from moving them later). Start packing up things that aren't in use, such as books, toys, and out of season cloths. You can also try and maximize your existing space by installing closet organizers and shelves. Rent a storage unit and put as many large items as you can in it. Knickknacks, paintings, old TV's, old furniture and boxes full of out of season clothes need to go to there ASAP. Store as much as you can offsite, and the rest neatly into your garage, shed or basement.

6. Lawn Maintenance and Pre-emergent Weed Control

Curb appeal is just as important, and nothing looks more inviting than a nice lawn. Here in Northern Virginia we get a variety of weeds throughout the season, such as crab grass, chick weed, broad leafs etc. Consider treating your lawn ahead of time in order to prevent the weeds from over taking your lawn. Typically, you want to put down pre-emergent weed control in March. Pretty much as soon as you feel the weather getting nice and there is no frost on the ground. If you prefer not to use pesticides, there some organic methods of weed control such as mixing white vinegar with water and spraying problem areas.

Mulch your flower beds and consider adding some colorful plants to help give your homes exterior some life. Rent a power washer for a day and wash your walk ways. Seal your the asphalt in your driveway.

There are many things that you can do to prepare your home for sale, and these tips should help get you going in the right direction. As always, we recommend establishing a budget and prioritizing based on your immediate needs.