Before listing your home, some real estate agents will tell you to work on the outside of the house first, but unless there is a major project involved, or your in a hurry to list, it is probably best to save the outside for last. There are two main reasons for this.
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First, the first steps in preparing the interior of the house are easier. They also help develop the proper mind set required for selling - beginning to think of your "home" as a marketable commodity.
Second, the exterior is the most important.
A home buyer's first impression is based on his or her view of the house from the real estate agent's car. They call that first impression "curb appeal."
So take a walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Look at nearby houses too, and see how yours compares. Then it may be time to go to work.
Landscaping - Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood?
If it is not, buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment. Immature trees do not really add much to the appearance value of the home. For house selling tips about ROI see that section
If you have an area for flowers, buy mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of vibrancy and color, creating a favorable first impression. Do not buy bulbs or seeds and plant them. They will not mature fast enough to create the desired effect and you certainly don't want a patch of brown earth for home buyers to view.
Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged, well watered, and free of brown spots. If there are problems with your lawn, you should probably take care of them before working on the inside of your home. This is because certain areas may need to be re-sod, and you want to give it a chance to grow so that re-sod areas are not immediately apparent. Plus, you might want to give fertilizer enough time to be effective.
Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.
Copyright 2005 - All Rights Reserved
You can reprint this article as long as you keep the entire article in tact, and you include the full author's bio with live links.
Jeff is the owner and partner of
We List homes 4 Less, a full-service, low sales commission broker serving
Santa Clarita Valley real estate and
Valencia, California real estate markets. Jeff is an advocate for using the Internet to promote niche, local businesses and to pass the savings onto clients.
