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10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable 1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. 2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior. 3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for. 4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows. 5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs. 6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained. 7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway. 8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable. 9. Clean your gutters. 10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
7 Terms to Watch for in a Purchase Contract 1. The closing date. See if the date the buyer wants to take title is reasonable for you. 2. Date of possession. See if the date the buyer wants to move in is reasonable for you. 3. The earnest money. Look for the largest earnest money deposit possible; since it is forfeited if the buyer backs out, a large deposit is usually a good indication of a sincere buyer. 4. Fixtures and personal property. Check the list of items that the buyer expects to remain with the property and be sure it’s acceptable. 5. Repairs. Determine what the requested repairs will cost and whether you’re willing to do the work or would rather lower the price by that amount. 6. Contingencies. See what other factors the buyer wants met before the contract is final—inspections, selling a home, obtaining a mortgage, review of the contract by an attorney. Set time limits on contingencies so that they won’t drag on and keep your sale from becoming final. 7. The contract expiration date. See how long you have to make a decision on the offer. This information brought to you by Realtor®.org. |
