 Fixing
Up The Interior
Plumbing and Fixtures
All your sink fixtures should look shiny and new. If this cannot
be accomplished by cleaning, buy new ones where needed. Make
sure all the hot and cold-water knobs are easy to turn and that
the faucets do not leak.
Ceilings, Walls and Painting
Check all the ceilings and walls for water stains, marks and
dirt. Clean everything to the best of your ability.
Consider re-painting certain areas, as this can be your best
investment when selling your home. It is not a very expensive
and you may
be able to do it yourself. If you do re-paint, consider using neutral
colors. An off-white color is a always a good choice because white
helps your rooms appear bright and spacious.
You may also want to consider hiring a cleaning crew to go through
and clean your home on a one-time basis.
Carpet and Flooring
Unless your carpet appears old and worn, or it is an outdated style
or color, hiring a good carpet cleaner is all you will need to
do. If you choose to replace the carpeting, do so with something
inexpensive in a neutral color. Repair or replace broken floor
tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything.
Windows and Doors
Check all of your windows to make sure they open and close easily.
Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. Do the same
things with the doors – make sure they open and close properly,
without creaking. If any of your windows or doors creak, a shot
of WD40 may improve things. Also check that all doorknobs turn
easily and are polished to look sharp.
Odor Control
Many people are oblivious to scents, but others are extremely
sensitive to offensive odors. Pets create odors that you may
have become
used to, but are immediately noticeable to others. For those
with cats, be sure to empty kitty litter boxes daily. For those
with
dogs, keep the dog outdoors as much as possible. You might
also try applying carpet freshener periodically.
To help eliminate bad smells, bathe your pets, shampoo your
carpets, dry clean your drapes, and empty trash cans and
recycling bins.
Place open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and
refrain from cooking strong-smelling foods. For those who smoke,
you
might want to eliminate smoking indoors while trying to sell
your home.
Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri
in your home and using air fresheners.
Repairs
Make all necessary repairs, but do not do anything expensive,
such as remodeling. Buyers expect everything in their
new home to operate
safely and properly. Picky buyers will notice minor maintenance
problems. Leaky faucets, burned-out light bulbs, painted-shut
or broken windows, inoperable appliances and the like
should be fixed
before you put your home on the market. These repairs
may seem small, but left undone they can lead buyers to question
whether
you've taken good care of your home.
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