Getting Your Orange County Home Ready For Sale

Things that you should keep in mind when getting your home ready to be on the market:

How Much You Should Spend

The Exterior "Curb Appeal"

Preparing the Interior

I want your home to "shine" for it's potential buyers, but I don't want you spending a ton of money making it happen. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "polishes" and "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room and clearing out clutter, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen. As your Orange County realtor, I'm familiar with local buyers' expectations in your area and can advise you on specific improvements that might need to be made.

The exterior of your home is just as important as the interior. It's the first thing prospective buyers see when they pull up in front. If you can't get them through the front door, nothing you've done on the inside matters. So take some time, and get unbiased opinions of what needs to be spruced up, changed, or removed.

• Keeping the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly
• Trimming hedges, weeding lawns and flowerbeds, and pruning trees regularly
• Checking the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling
• Inspecting doors and windows for peeling paint
• Cleaning and aligning gutters
• Inspecting and cleaning the chimney
• Repairing and replacing loose or damaged roof shingles
• Repairing and repainting loose siding and caulking
• During spring and summer months considering adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance
• Re-sealing an asphalt driveway
• Keeping your garage door closed
• Store RVs or old and beaten up teens' jalopies elsewhere while the house is on the market
• Applying a fresh coat of paint to the front door

Now that you've gotten them through the front door, it's time to let the inside of your home "shine". An unbiased opinion is very helpful here as well. It can tell you what should be changed, cleared out, and emphasized. Here are some pointers to remember:

• Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
• Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
• Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
• If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
• Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
• Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
• Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork.
• Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
• Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads.
• Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
• Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.