Are you getting your house ready for sale this spring? Here are some ways to do it yourself that will help you to show your home to its best advantage, even before the sellers step inside.

“If your house does not look good, it will not sell in this market, no matter how well it is priced,” warns Ron Resnick, at Long & Foster in Leesburg.

“It must be pristine and clean,” he says. As Ann Grainger put it, at Long & Foster of Clifton/Fairfax Station, “Do anything to make it look new.”

Now they are joining with other top Fairfax and Loudoun County Realtors and are sharing their five favorite ways to reach that goal, by “doing it yourself.” And of all the things that you can do, lawn and garden care is at the top of the list.

1. Plant

“Landscaping is a good value because it gives more curb appeal,” says Karen Briscoe, at Weichert, Realtors of McLean. So does placing planters around that crucial front door. And, of course, you will be sure that your lawn is mowed and the weeds are pulled. Nothing says “neglect” like an overgrown garden.

“Laws should be edged and trimmed and flower beds mulched,” says Gail Belt, at Coldwell Banker in Vienna. “Fresh, colorful flowers of any variety, in any season, are always welcome.”

2. Polish

The lawn and garden are hardly the only things that the shoppers will see, while standing outside your home.

You can make a positive first impression by polishing or replacing the front doorknobs, Grainger advises. Resnick strongly recommends the latter. “The first thing the shoppers see is the doorknob and the lock above it,” he said. They have a long time to stare at them, too, while they wait for their broker to open the lockbox, take out the key and lead them inside.

Keep on “polishing” up everything, both inside and out, Grainger adds. “Power wash the deck and siding, buff the hardwood floors, shampoo or replace the carpet. Also, touch up the calking in the tub and shower and replace the faucet. Wash the windows or replace them, and take the screens down to brighten the house.”

Belt agrees, “If the carpet is stained or worn, install new carpet”…unless it covers hardwood floors. “If they are in good condition, remove the carpet and show them off.”

3. Paint

“Painting gives you the biggest bang for the buck,” says Briscoe. “You should really do the whole house if possible, especially the outside. That is the first thing the buyer sees, and it sends a bad message if it is not well maintained. So many people are doing ‘drive-by-viewings’ nowadays, because they are viewing the houses in the Internet. If they see that the exterior is badly maintained, they may decide not to go inside.”

Exterior trim paint especially should be in good condition, says Belt. “If it is cracked or peeling around the windows or below the eaves–repaint.”

As for the interior, it should be “fresh, neutral beige,” she adds. Briscoe calls the color “good old Realtor beige,” but it’s just as useful for new construction. More specifically, beige walls with white molding are seen in model homes from chic condos to magnificent mansions. That way, the buyers will feel that your house will fit with their own color scheme.

4. Purchase

You may be the world’s most dedicated do-it-yourselfer…still bragging about the way you turned your gazebo into a scale model of the Taj Mahal. But, let’s face it…some things you will just have to go out and buy. And the best places to spend your money are the kitchen and baths, as our expert Realtors agree.

“An ‘easy fix’ for the bathroom is to replace the mirrors, light fixtures and faucets, especially in older homes,” Grainger says. “Another really good fix is to replace the kitchen counters with granite (for luxury housing) and replace the cabinets. At least replace the cabinet handles.” They are, indeed, especially likely to show their age, because you keep gripping them.

At the same time, Briscoe says, “Don’t invest too much time on the cabinets and counters. Your taste may not be the same as the buyers, and they will feel they just have to take them out and put them in again.”

Resnick recommends making these improvements before you decide to sell. “That way, you can spread the cost over months and years while you enjoy the upgrades.”

As Karen Cooper puts it, at RE/MAX Leaders, Sherry Wilson & Co. in Purcellville, “When making home improvements, do them for the enjoyment of yourself and your family, not for what may bring the biggest return.

“The return on the investment very much depends on the state of the market at the time you sell. In this market, having a beautifully remodeled bath or new countertops are likely to help your home sell faster than the competition, but not necessarily for money.” Still, in this market, who can ask for anything more?

When it comes to more elaborate projects, even if it is not actually a miniature Taj Mahal, Cooper has another warning as well. “When homeowners do their own work, it is important to obtain a permit from the county when applicable. I have seen issues when selling homes, when the homeowners did not have permits or inspections for their own work.”

5. Prepare

For advice on “permitting that project” and other basic information on doing it yourself, try “Home Improvement” classes, like the ones offered by the local home improvement store. Topics include projects such as bathroom design, bricklaying, building decks, installing ceramic tile, finishing basements and using power tools. For more information, visit your local home improvement store.

source : www.timescommunity.com By: Jackie Friedlander