1. No Clutter. Throw out old newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small items like figurines and other trinkets. Store clothing that won’t be used in the near future to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage. Buyers like to visualize their possessions in the house and that is hard to do when the ocean home is full of clutter.
2. Wash your windows and screens, especially on the oceanfront side. This lets more light into the interior and dirty windows are a turn off.
3. Time to give your ocean home a good spring cleaning. Clean the floors and shampoo the carpet. Wipe off any dirt or fingerprints from door knobs, and light switch plates. Wipe down the cabinets and counter tops in the kitchen and bathrooms. Give your appliances a through cleaning. Help your oceanfront home make a good first impression.
4. Replace dim and blown light bulbs. Clean any dirty window treatments, i.e. draperies, blinds, etc. The goal is to make the rooms as bright as possible. Arrive early and turn lights on before buyers arrive to see the home.
5. Make as many minor repairs as you can before the buyers see the home. Repairs like sticky doors, torn window screens, caulk the exterior doors and windows, caulk the interior counter tops, tubs, and showers, replace any broken and missing electrical outlet cover plates and light switch covers, and repair any plumbing leaks or dripping faucets. These small repairs will aid in making a good first impression on the buyer. Don’t know what to fix? Call a home inspector and order a sellers home inspection. A sellers home inspection will allow you to repair problems before potential buyers arrive.
6. Get the most out of your curb appeal. Mow the lawn, trim the shrubbery, rake straw and leaves, and edge the driveway and walks. Plant some bright colored seasonal flowers and place some potted plants near the entry to brighten up the landscape.
7. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
8. Clean dirty gutters.
9. Polish or replace your front doorknob and door numbers.
10. Eliminate odors in the home. Clean carpeting and curtains to get rid of unpleasant odors in the home. If the carpet is old, consider replacing it. The added value to the home will likely far outweigh the cost of replacing it. Open the windows. The number one turn off to a potential buyer is an unpleasant odor.
Hubert Miles is the founder of Waterfront Houses USA, an online marketing service that provides Oceanfront Homes and Ocean Homes available in the US and Canada.
