The sale of your home is one of the most important events in your life. But what might seem like an overwhelming job at first glance can be easily organized into specific steps to make your house purchase-ready and competitive, especially in today’s “buyers market” (one in which the inventory is rapidly increasing).
Here is a list of things to consider for successfully preparing your home for market:

1. Spend the time before you spend a dime – It’s true that certain investments, like painting and yard work, involve relatively little cash outlay and yet may return many times your cost. However, in considering any home improvement project, you’ll need to ask yourself a couple of questions: Why are you doing it? Is it work that really needs to be done, such as repairing a chimney or a leaky roof? Or is it an amenity that that YOU would like, and that you just hope would appeal to a potential buyer, such as a hot tub or home office addition? Will it truly add value to your home, or might it actually make it more difficult to sell?

You see, an expense that you feel is absolutely necessary may be considered an unnecessary frill to a buyer. And an additional risk of remodeling is that the cost and increased asking price will price your home out of the range of similar homes. You should evaluate the purpose of every dollar spent in relation to the return that you will get in the sale. (This is a good rule to follow, not only when selling a home, but whenever you are considering a renovation or remodeling project.)

2. Catch them at the curb- Many buyers form their first, and often strongest, opinions before they step out of their car. Let’s take a look at some projects you might consider, starting with simple steps that can reap huge dividends.

(By the way, it’s my experience that the following items are normally worthwhile projects; however, you may not be able to accomplish all of these. In that case, just do what you can and don't worry about the rest. A competent real estate agent can work around the obstacles.)

• Surveys show that painting the exterior of your home results in the greatest return on time and money invested when compared to other improvements dome for selling purposes. Even if your home isn’t in need of the full treatment, check the trim around windows and doorways for cracking and peeling, and do any necessary touch-up work. Your realtor should be able to advise you regarding this and supply a list of recommended vendors.
• Driveways can definitely affect a buyer’s first impressions. Remove heavy oil stains from your driveway and if it’s cracked, fix it. Whatever you do, though, don’ create a bigger problem through quick-fix solutions–use high quality patching materials and sealers.
• Place colorful flower pots near the front of your home or plant flowers near the entryway to create a more welcoming look. Prune overgrown trees or shrubs and replace any scraggly plants with healthy new ones.

3. Once inside… -Eliminate clutter, nic-knacks and family photographs in order to “de-personalize” the house. Potential buyers want to be able to visualize their family and their belongings in your home. Help them do it by making your home as clean, organized and photo-free as possible.

4. Clean, clean and clean!

• Have the windows and screens professionally cleaned inside and outside
• If your home has tiled counters, floors, showers or tub surrounds, clean all the tile and grout
• Remove water spots from shower and tub enclosures
• Burnish all un-anodized aluminum window and door frames with  steel wool pads
• Clean all enamel painted surfaces including ceilings, walls and doors
• Repair or replace malfunctioning built-in appliances
• Replace damaged vinyl in bathrooms and kitchen before the sale
• Replace worn knobs on cabinets
• Garage: the least important area
• If you don't have room to store all those articles that you are clearing out of the living area, put them in the garage. You can park your car in the driveway or the street while your home is for sale, and if a buyer wants to see the garage, they can be told that its being used for storing things you’ve already packed as an explanation before showing them. Your car won't be there during showings because you will take it with you while you disappear during the showings of your home to prospective purchasers.

Other areas:

• Replace any broken or cracked windows and torn screens
• Replace or repair any damaged exterior doors
• Replace any leaking plumbing fixture
• Edge vacuum around the entire inside of the home
• Clean all the light fixtures and replace any burned-out bulbs
• Remove fingerprints on the walls and surfaces around light switches and from the doors around the door knobs
• Pets shouldn't be seen or heard
• If you currently have pets, keep them out of sight. This may also be the right time to suggest a temporary home for your neighbor's barking dog.

5. Consider to inspect so you’ll know that to expect- Ask for the advice of your real estate broker regarding the appropriate inspections to consider. A competent realtor should know fair and impartial licensed pest control (termite) inspectors, property inspectors, roofing inspectors, chimney inspectors, pool inspectors, etc. It is recommended to obtain all of these inspections prior to looking at any offer so you know what you may be asked to do regarding necessary repairs under your purchase contract. Also, we advise that you perform any repairs that make your home safe and functional early in the marketing process since most buyers would demand that you pay for these repairs. It makes sense to eliminate these visual red-flags by doing this work as soon as possible.

6. Check the temp – You want to make sure that potential buyers feel as comfortable as possible in your home. Being too hot or too cold can give them a subliminal message of “something’s off,” and you definitely want them to feel “just right.”

7. Scents make sense – A house that smells great just feels more welcoming. Invest in a few lightly scented candles for the bathrooms and kitchen. (I have found that Manual Canovas or Rigaud candles can be lit briefly in advance of showings and leave wonderfully long lingering scents. Less expensive suggestions are just a clean “lavendar” or “linen” scent from your local candle shop.)

8. The sounds of selling – If possible, leave soft jazz or classical music playing in the background.

We at Luxury Asheville realize that you are in the beginning stages of your sale or purchase and we respect your privacy. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email us at lgideon@luxuryasheville.com or call us directly at 828-686-3348.