Keeping Your Home In Ready-to-Sell Condition

Published: July 8, 2012 in

Waiting to put your home in “ready-to-sell” condition can be stressful and expensive. Randall Cantrell, a housing specialist at the University of Florida, recently published a paper intended to help home owners get and keep there homes ready to sell. Here are some highlights from that paper:

Ensure that the front entranceway is well lit and clear of obstructions, such as webs, nests, hives, etc. A clear front entranceway is inviting and safe.
Provide a welcome mat at the front entrance of the house. Welcome mats keep people from slipping and floors clean, while also reflecting the character of the home. The character of the home often affects the unconscious first impressions that visitors to the property create and sometimes retain regardless of future improvements done to the property.
Ensure that parked cars appear neat, orderly, and well maintained.
Ensure that trees, shrubs and grass are trimmed. Landscaping keeps the lawn looking maintained and gives the home curb appeal.
Ensure that all fences are not broken, are painted, and have working gate latches.
Ensure that any screen or storm door is in proper tension for opening and closing.
Ensure the doorbell is in proper working order.
Ensure there are doorstops behind doors.
Ensure the roof is free of loose, wavy, streaked, or faded shingles.
Ensure that ceiling-fan blades are balanced and dusted.
Ensure that the back porch, patio