So you're thinking of selling your home. It's a great place in a great neighborhood. It offers quick access to local malls and grocery stores, and the nearby schools and parks are some of the best into he city. But a quick tour makes you wonder whether you can ask top dollar for your home. The living room carpet's a little tired. The upstairs bathroom has exposed pipes from a recent repair. And the garage is beginning to look like a battle zone. Where do you start?


The first thing a potential buyer sees when they come to your home is the greenery. Trees hedges, flowerbeds, the front lawn -- all of these make a crucial first impression on a prospective purchaser, Here are a few ways to put your best foot forward:

  1. Consider putting in a flowerbed
  2. Revitalize and re-green your lawn
  3. Trim all hedges and bushes; bark chips are often a nice touch
  4. Resurface the front walk if needed


Go out the front door and stand at the curb. Take a long look at the front of your home. Now try to put yourself in the buyer's shoes. What would you change if you could? Some ideas:

  1. Replace your front door with a newer, "homier" model
  2. Invest in a new roof and flush out your rain gutters
  3. Replace any cracked or broken windows
  4. Scrub the oil spot off of your driveway; re-pave it if necessary
  5. Re-paint the trim around windows and doors


Before touring the rest of the home, let's take a look at a few general indoor tips.

  1. Clean all carpets, and replace them if necessary
  2. Replace worn or faded curtains and blinds
  3. Fix any nail holes in walls
  4. Paint peeling walls and worn trim
  5. Polish or re-varnish hardwood floors
  6. Remove any objectionable odors or physical damage caused by pets


The kitchen -- along with the bathroom -- is the room in your house that will make the biggest impact on a prospective buyer. This will get you started:

  1. Re-surface faded, chipped, and burnt countertops
  2. Repair that broken garbage disposal
  3. Replace old, unsightly home appliances
  4. Buff the kitchen floor until it looks brand-new

 


Your bathroom can make or break a sale, so it's crucial that it's in tip-top shape. Here's a handful of pointers:

  1. Scrub and disinfect all floors, tiles, sinks, and toilets, paying special attention to mildew and water build-up
  2. Replace broken or damaged mirrors, toilet seats, faucets, and other bathroom hardware
  3. Invest in a new shower curtain and a decorative set of towels and bath mats
  4. Clean out messy cabinets and medicine chests
  5. Fix leaky faucets and other plumbing problems
  6. Re-grout tiles and floors as needed


Basements, like attics, are more than just places to store boxes. These days, basements are often converted into rec rooms, laundry rooms, and guest bedrooms. That's why it's just plain smart to give as many ideas as possible to a prospective buyer.

  1. Install cable outlets and phone jacks in the rooms most likely to be used
  2. Reorganize closets to make them seem as roomy as possible
  3. Weather-strip around windows to keep the basement as cozy as the rest of the house
  4. Cover all exposed piping and encase fuse boxes with a surrounding wall
  5. Find out what it would take to re-route the plumbing for washer and dryer hookups


According to a 1994 report by the National Association of Realtors®, the master bedroom is "the third most important room in the house." it's true. If a prospect can't feel at home where they sleep, they may not pay much attention to the rest of your home. Try these few suggestions:

  1. Make sure that both phone and cable jacks are available in every bedroom
  2. Think of installing ceiling fans for comfort and energy efficiency
  3. Purchase the new bedroom set you've been admiring
  4. Paint or wallpaper children's bedrooms to give them character


From watching television or reading a book to simply kicking off your shoes and relaxing a while, your family room needs to be all things to all people. Here are a couple of helpful hints:

  1. Install that extra cable jack at the opposite end of the room so prospects will feel they can decorate as they like
  2. Invest in track or recessed lighting to give the room atmosphere
  3. Cover any stains or tears on furniture so that prospect can focus on the room
  4. Find some attractive, inexpensive prints or paintings to give the room some depth


Dining rooms are making a startling comeback in the 90s, and anyone hoping to sell their home would be wise to give thins room its due. Here's a beginning:

  1. If you can find an attractive, affordable new dining set, do it
  2. Bring that china cabinet out of storage and showcase it
  3. Invest in an inexpensive centerpiece for your dining room table


Some people use it as a place to house the family boat. Others use it as a part-time workshop or tool shed. But no matter how a family wants to use its garage, one thing is certain: it needs to seem as roomy and all-purpose as possible. Along with moving out all those messy boxes and repacking, you'd do well to try these few suggestions:

  1. Replace that old garage door with a newer model, and install an electric door opener
  2. Tear down the old shelves that line the walls and build sturdy new ones
  3. Power-scrub the floor to remove tire marks and oil stains
  4. Install new fluorescents to replace that dangling light bulb


Tomi Johnson
Realty One Real Living
3994 E. Harbor Rd
Port Clinton, OH 43452
888-807-4110 toll free
419-341-0276 cell phone
419-734-7260 fax
tomi@vacationlandconnection.com