All sellers want their homes to attract attention, yield the highest price and spend as little time on the market as possible.
While luck is a good thing to have on your side, there are steps you can take to increase the chances of selling your home quickly and for top dollar.
Spring is a perfect time to get your house on the market. With careful planning, consultations with the right professionals and a willingness to put in a little elbow grease, your home could have buyers scurrying for their checkbooks instead of turning their nose up and heading to another listing.
"There is never a more crucial time to make a good first impression," said Karen Davis, a realtor with Re/Max Allegiance based in Virginia Beach. "Put yourself in the buyer's shoes, and take a good, honest look at your home."
The first step is to dissociate yourself with your house. That's not always easy to cut your emotional ties with your home.
Try thinking of it as a product you are selling, then stage and market it accordingly. The best place to start is with a professional real estate agent.
Consulting a professional will help you target the right price range as well as offer tips on what needs to be done to get the house ready for listing.
"A realtor can help you plan what you need to do and stay within your budget," said Bryan Cerny, associate broker with Rose & Womble Realty based in Chesapeake. "You don't want to spend money and time on things that are not necessary."
Local agents offered tips on where to start and what gives you the best bang for the real estate buck. Here are their suggestions:
clean everything
This is one of the cheapest and most effective tools in preparing your house for listing.
"A clean house shows buyers you take care of things," Davis said. "People aren't distracted by dirty floors, grimy windows or dust and dirt."
Davis suggests washing the windows, sweeping the floors, mopping the kitchen, wiping off ceiling fan blades and repainting the walls and trim, if needed.
In addition, clean the outside of the home. Pressure wash the exterior of the structure, and don't forget the sidewalk and driveway.
declutter inside and out
You are going to be moving anyway, so you might as well get rid of the excess now.
Clear out closets, donate unused or unwanted items and get rid of the broken items that have been laying around for months - or years.
If you have too much stuff for your house to hold, consider renting a storage unit.
"You don't want people to trip over your stuff when they are walking through your house," Cerny said. "The more clutter you have in your home, the less people can envision themselves living there. Don't let your stuff get in the way."
Don't forget the outside when you are looking to get rid of or to donate items. Old and outgrown kid's toys needs to be removed. Remove and throw away broken items such as a trampoline or patio furniture.
"You want to present the image of a well-maintained home," Cerny said. "Don't leave out any eyesores."
evaluate your yard
The first thing potential home buyers see is your front yard. So it only makes sense to have it look nice and inviting.
"Cut the grass, edge and pull up the weeds," Davis said. "Add some color by planting some flowers or adding potted plants."
Cerny also suggests putting down fresh mulch, painting the front door, washing and repairing the fence, if you have one.
"When people see problems on the outside of a house, such as a broken fence or unkempt yard, it can cause doubt in their mind about the entire house," Cerny said. "You want all 'yeses' and to steer clear of the 'oh, nos!' "
fix it or upgrade
If an item is broken, fix it. If there is a simple or quick upgrade such as a sink faucet, ceiling fan or light fixture, do those next.
"You can spend under $1,000 and add small upgrades to your bathrooms and kitchens and give them a whole new look," Davis said.
"Add some new rugs and fresh towels in a bathroom, or get a new, white comforter for the bed, and your house has a fresh, clean look."
Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net