From the Outside In:
"Paint: Few things will enhance the curb appeal of your house as much as painting the outside. Before painting, scrape any blistered or peeling paint; repair gutters and down spouts; and replace any wood showing dry rot. Front Entry: First impressions make a difference! All woodwork should be neatly painted, including the door if necessary. Replace worn or broken doorbells. Polish any door brass. Paint/replace an unsightly mailbox. Put out a new or clean doormat.
Yard: Mow the lawn. Weed flower beds; remove or replace dead plants or trees.
Driveway, Garage/Carport: Clean up grease or oil spots. See that the garage door opens freely, and if you have an automatic door opener, make sure works.
Air Conditioners: Paint/replace any rusted exposed metal. Correct draining.
Patio: A nice spread of outdoor furniture looks very appealing.
Swimming pool: Adjust chemicals so pool sparkles. Store chemicals and tools neatly."
From the Inside Out:
"Windows: Repair or replace torn or bent screens. As a last resort, remove them entirely; it's better to have no screens than bad ones. Replace any cracked or broken panes.
Doors: Check to see that doors open and close freely, including closet doors and patio or doors. Tighten hardware.
Walls: Like the exterior, it will pay to put a fresh coat of paint here if needed.
Floors: Repair or replace missing or damaged pieces of tile; polish if needed. Repair of a loose stair tread plate or loose carpeting on a stairway is a priority.
Carpet: Steam cleaning is the best answer for soiled carpets. If pet odors are present, clean the carpet before placing the home on the market so odors can be eliminated."
Check the Mechanicals:
"Lights: Every light socket in and around the house should have a good bulb of adequate wattage. Don't overlook those outside and in the garage.
Switches and Fixtures: Repair or replace wall switches, outlets, and light fixtures that don't work. Replace any broken switch plates.
Appliances: Those to be sold with the home should be in good working order. If specific equipment doesn't work and you don't intend to repair it, disclose this.
Plumbing: Badly chipped or stained sinks and tubs should be re-enameled, patched, or replaced. Leaky or noisy toilets should be fixed, as well as any dripping faucets.
Sprinkler systems: These should be working properly with no defective heads."
Go for the Spacious Look:
"One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the ""look"" of your home is to open up as much space as possible. Openness stimulates positive feelings in buyers. Overstuffed rooms or closets give the impression of being smaller than they really are.
Closets and storage areas: One of the most frequently voiced requirements of buyers is for more closet and storage space. Remove items you aren't using.
Counters and cabinets: The same principle used for closets applies here. Overcrowding gives the impression of inadequacy.
Garage: Buyers will pay a premium for a garage if they can visualize it being of value to them, but it's hard to sell when the garage is filled to overflowing."
Water in our Veins–Meet Lake James Real Estate
Please call us if we can help with any of your real estate needs at Lake James – who better to help you than people who live, play and work here!
Polly Leadbetter – Owner/Broker P/ 828-584-9999 C/ 828-443-5407
Shane Cook – Sales P/828-584-9999 C/828-443-3205
Rhonda Edge – Sales P/828-584-9999 C/828-443-6595
Amanda Hotchkiss – Sales P/ 828-584-9999 C/ 828-335-3001
Marc Parham – Sales P/828-584-9999 C/828-443-1337
Denice Rechtiene – Sales P/828-584-9999 C/828-432-6976
