Showcase of homes and real estate advertised for sale by owner in Gainesville

Preparing your home to show

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Tips for the Interior:

People buy homes that appear spacious, clean and solid.

Spacious:

  1. Clutter and dark colors turn off most buyers. That means getting rid of everything you can live without.
  2. Have a garage sale to eliminate unnecessary items. Use the money you earn to put some of your bulkier possessions in storage.
  3. Bright lights and white walls make rooms look bigger. If you plan to paint, use white or off-white. Replace lights with higher wattage bulbs.
  4. Clear kitchen countertops as much as possible.
  5. Reduce number of items in cabinets.
  6. Arrange clothing neatly in each closet and reduce number of items stored on shelves and on the floor.


Clean:

  1. Clean and organize your basement, attic and garage.
  2. Clean everything - carpets included. Ask a friend to assess your efforts, especially sensitive issues such as odors.
  3. Wash windows and mirrors.
  4. Clean the oven and all appliances. Remove grease spatters and polish chrome fixtures and surfaces.
  5. Clean smudges, especially around doorknobs and light switches.

Solid:

  1. Rattles, squeaks and leaks leave the impression that house needs a lot of work. Eliminate them.
  2. Repair squeaking steps and wobbly banisters.
  3. Repair leaking roof and remove all signs of water damage: Paint over water stains and replace discolored wallpaper.
  4. Repair leaky faucets and pipes. Repair or clean caulking around tubs and sinks.
  5. Tighten loose doorknobs, light switch plates and cabinet hinges. Repair sticking doors and windows.
  6. Tack down all loose molding.

Tips for the Exterior:

You get only one chance to make a "First Impression." Spruce up the exterior of your home to improve "curb appeal" and make buyers want to see the inside.

Lawn & Yard:
A well kept lawn implies a well maintained home. Cut lawn weekly while showing your home. Rake leaves and sweep sidewalk on weekends when house is to be shown. Where possible, remove dead limbs and debris from shrubs and trees.
Plant extra flowers for more color or spruce up landscaping with potted flowers.
- Repair fences and touch-up with paint or stain.
- Store lawn equipment, toys and other outdoor items away neatly.
- Board dog or other large pets with neighbors while showing the house
- Repaint or replace mailbox.

Front Entrance:
The front entrance is a key part of the "First Impression."
· Paint, clean or stain front door. Remove old screens if they don't fit or operate properly.
· Make sure entry light and doorbell are in working order.
· Replace missing house numbers and make sure the number is visible from the street in the early evening.
· Put out a nice welcome mat and a potted plant if you have room on steps or entrance way.

Roof, Windows and Siding:
Experienced home owners often ignore miss-aligned shutters, bent gutters and loose shingles (unless there is a leak), but these things jump out at first-time buyers.
- Paint and repair gutters. Repair loose shingles and flashing in roof, especially when visible from the ground.
- Paint window sashes, trim and shutters. Replace cracked window panes, and wash entire window.
- Clean and paint siding as needed. White or something very close is the best color for aluminum, wood or synthetic siding.