Keep Your Home in Tip Top Shape with These 12 Simple Tips

By Keith Loria

If your house is on the market this holiday season, you may notice a slowdown in foot traffic among prospective buyers as holiday parties—and other activities—clutter their calendar. 

Rather than becoming discouraged, take the time to make sure your home is prepared for the uptick in activity as the new year approaches. 

To be sure your house is in tip top shape when interest picks up in January, here are a dozen things you can do:

1. Wash any carpets or rugs. Sure, it’s easy enough to drag out the vacuum and make the room look good, but go that extra step and give the carpets a good cleaning. 
2. Replace any plumbing fixtures that are outdated, or those that may leak a little. Putting in new washers and tightening screws can go a long way toward preventing a water catastrophe. 
3. Clean the closets. Prospective buyers love opening closets to see how much space there is. Be prepared by taking the time to organize and remove anything that you don’t wear anymore. The less items hanging in your closet, the bigger the space will appear.
4. Buy a new mat for the front door. You’ll most likely have people trampling through your home, accompanied by the snow and slush that define the season. Not only will a mat by the front door go a long way toward protecting your floors, it’ll also provide a great first impression. 
5. Upgrade your mailbox. Most people don’t think of this, but a new mailbox is a great way to grab a buyer’s attention before they ever step foot in the house.
6. Empty the refrigerator and give it a good cleaning. Keep things organized and have brightly colored fruit dead center, giving the fridge a homey look. While you’re at it, be sure to remove any magnets from the outside of the fridge. 
7. Change out light bulbs throughout the house and replace them with brighter bulbs that enhance the light in any given room. 
8. Replace the linens on beds with bright colors. You don’t want people walking into the various bedrooms within your home only to see bland colors. Brightly colored bed linens are a great way to help bedrooms stand out. 
9. Clean the fireplace. While you’ll want to call a professional to clean the inside of the chimney, you can still get rid of any burnt wood or ashes that have collected in the bottom. Make sure you clean off the grate at the same time so that it looks brand new.
10. Clean the yard. Even if you live in a colder climate, make sure your yard looks clean and tidy. That means getting rid of extra leaves and removing excess snow so that prospective buyers can clearly see the lay of the land. 
11. Organize the garage and basement. These are the two main areas that will most likely interest male buyers, and you don’t want to turn them off with piles of junk.
12. Relax. Selling a home is stressful, but make sure you take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet. 

Contact our office today for more tips that will help your home stand out above the competition.

Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2014. All rights reserved.