Condition, Condition, Condition!

My last three blogs have explained the importance of location, listing agent and marketing in order to sell your home in a reasonable time. In our current market, Condition ranks right up there with location, and it is the fourth variable of our Sales Formula. However, unlike location, which you can't change, the condition of your home you most likely can improve upon.

In fact, there are so many areas to improve the condition of a home that I'm going to separate them into "Inside" and "Outside." And since spring is a great time for outside chores, let's begin at your street.

Take a walk to look at your home from the neighbors' point of view. Are your shrubs and trees trimmed to appear their best? Are all the leaves gone from the yard and gardens? Have you put out new mulch yet? Or maybe you don't have any landscaping to speak of? Trees, shrubs, grass, flowers-- they all contribute to your home's first impression before the buyers even get out of the car.

How does your home look as you approach the front door? Are the shutters all attached with a fresh coat of paint? Old pots, broken chairs or torn cushions on the front porch? Get rid of them. Windows clean? Cobwebs removed? Front door and railing looking clean and fresh? Door mat for rainy day showings? Even your mailbox should stand straight and be presentable.

Make it sharp! When buyers look in person, that first impression tells them whether the home has been well taken care of. When the first impression is not stellar, buyers assume that if a homeowner is too lazy to care for the obvious needs of his home, he is also very likely to ignore the important maintenance items that are part of owning a home.

Unless you want a buyer to cross off your home before they ever step inside, take the next weekend or two to invest in your home's outside appearance. And don't forget your backyard and patio!