Tips for gettting your house ready to sell

Once you have made the decision to sell your home, the next step is getting it ready to sell. If your home is in pristine condition, getting it ready may just involve some straightening up. Most homes require minor repairs such as leaky faucets, touch up paint, etc. Repairs are a bid consideration when deciding on the price of your home. Should you fix items and take a lesser price? Should you invest money on repairs and ask a slightly higher price?

Inspecting your Home:
Grab a pen and paper and go through your home. Pretend you are a buying. Take note of everything you notice. Make sure you add any problems you see. Do not assume that since it is a tiny problem those buyers will not see it. If you notice it they will too.

Inspect all floors, are the baseboards in good shape? Do they need cleaning? Does the floor creak anywhere? Do the carpets need cleaning?

Check all walls and ceilings. Do they walls need painting? Any cracks or holes that need patching? Is the wallpaper peeling?

Check all doors and windows. Do the windows open and shut easily? Any doorknobs missing? Any loose hinges? Do any of the doors squeak? Are windows clean? Any finger prints on the doors, or scuff marks from shoes?

Inspect the bathrooms. Are tiles clean and caulked? Any missing tiles? Leaky faucets? Does the toilet flush properly? Check the water pressure, and how the water drains from the tub and sink.

Inspect the kitchen. Do all appliances work? Are they clean? Any cracks in the linoleum? Check for leaks in the sink, and for wallpaper that needs to be replaced.

After you assess what needs to be prepared decide if you can handle the repairs yourself, or if you need to hire someone.
If you decide your home needs repairs, you must then decide if you should hire someone or attempt the repairs yourself.