Make Your Home Attractive to Potential Buyers

The following article is written by guest glogger Kayla Person. She is a lifelong Hollistonian and a real estate agent at Brick House Realty:

Last week's article discussed ways to increase curb appeal.

In today’s real estate market, first impressions are everything. It is said that a buyer decides within 8-10 seconds whether or not they like a property. This means that the exterior presentation of your home can make or break a sale.

It is difficult to look at one's own house in the same way that potential home buyers will, because when we become accustomed to the way something looks, it is not easy to see its faults. The best way to understand how a home buyer views your house is to take a step back and try to pretend you are a potential buyer.

Ask yourself: “What is my first impression pulling into the driveway?,” “Are there any eyesores that turn me off?,” and “What are some of the best features of the exterior?", etc.

Asking those questions can help to compile a action plan of things you can do to improve the curb appeal of your house and yard. First, clean up and do small repairs, then work on these larger projects such:

• Give the fence a fresh coat of paint
• Kill mold or mildew on the siding of your house
• Remove clutter from garden areas (sorry, the lawn gnomes and flamingos have to go!)
• Dispose of any large piles of debris, leaves, etc.
• Pressure-wash dingy siding or decks
• Trim unruly shrubs and branches
• Most of all, maintain a mowed lawn.

A property lacking curb appeal makes buyers feel like the house has not been well maintained and this is probably a direct reflection of the condition of the inside of the house. Setting aside some time to improve the curb appeal of your house and yard can ADD VALUE to property. So what are you waiting for?