My Piedmont and Oakland Real Estate Adventures. History, Architecture and Homes

1. Clean Your Home Thoroughly:  While this seems obvious, many sellers are not aware of the importance that a clean and shiny home has to buyers.  Things that sellers they are used to, and see everyday around their home, like pet odors or piles of laundry in rooms, are complete turn offs to visitors, and causes them to skip many rooms and areas of the home because of their atmosphere. The most efficient solution is to have the family focus on one room at a time, then clean and organize it. You are going to have to do it once the home is sold, so just do it sooner!

2. Do Strategic Repairs:  While you may not be able to afford to repair all the items in the house that may need attention, devote special time to small things that need attention.  They can often be the most irritating to buyers when they don't work.  Make sure all the light switches work, all the doors close, the faucets don't drip, the windows slide, etc..  Most of these can be corrected by a trip to the home improvement store, and usually the cost is not that high for the return you will get in your home's presentation.

3. Fix Up Your Home's Exterior:  Pay special attention to your "curb appeal".  Often times, people will drive by the house first to decide whether it is worth their time to come in.  You may lose potential buyers if your home looks worn out or shabby.  Buying inexpensive plants, weeding out the old bushes and flowers, and touching up the entry with fresh, and perhaps pleasantly contrasting paint color, is one more inexpensive, yet productive activity. 

4. Paint Where You Can: One of the most inexpensive, and most efficient way of increasing your home's appeal is to paint the rooms in a light and appealing color. Remove all the wild colors that your children may have wanted in their special room, and make them as generic as possible so that future buyers can see themselves living there. 

Here is a case where any investment, done with a bit of planning, could pay big rewards in attracting and holding the kind of buyers that you want.

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