Buyers and Sellers Help List

What to look for in a prospective property.

THE HOME                                     Good           Average           Poor
Square footage
Number of bedrooms
Number of baths
Practicality of floorplan
Interior walls condition
Closet/storage space
Basement
Fireplace
Cable TV
Basement: dampness or odors
Exterior appearance, condition
Lawn/yard space
Fence
Patio or deck
Garage
Energy efficiency
Screens, storm windows
Roof: age and condition
Gutters and downspouts
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Appearance/condition of nearby
homes/businesses
Traffic
Noise Level
Safety/Security
Age mix of inhabitants
Number of children
Pet restrictions
Parking
Zoning regulations
Neighborhood restrictions/ covenants
Fire protection
Police
Snow removal
Garbage service
SCHOOLS
Age/condition
Reputation
Quality of teachers
Achievement test scores
Play areas
Curriculum
Class size
Busing distance
CONVENIENCE TO:
Supermarket
Schools
Work
Shopping
Child care
Hospitals
Doctor/dentist
Recreation/parks
Restaurants/entertainment
Church/synagogue
Airport
Highways
Public transportation

Home Sale Tips

• Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
• Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds, and prune trees regularly.
• Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
• Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
• Clean and align gutters.
• Inspect and clean the chimney.
• Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
• Repair and repaint loose siding and caulking.
• In winter, keep walks neatly cleared of leaves and ice.
• During spring and summer months consider adding a few showy annuals, perhaps in pots, near your front entrance.
• Re-seal an asphalt driveway.
• Keep your garage door closed.
• Store RV's or old and beaten up cars elsewhere while the house is on the market.
• Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.

Maximizing interior appeal

Enhance your home's interior by:

• Giving every room in the house a thorough cleaning, as well as removing all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms have actually rented storage garages and moved half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
• Hiring a professional cleaning service, once every few weeks while the house is on the market. This may be a good investment for owners who are busy elsewhere.
• Removing the less frequently used, even daily used items from kitchen counters, closets, and attics, making these areas much more inviting. Since you're anticipating a move anyhow, holding a garage sale at this point is a great idea.
• If necessary, repainting dingy, soiled or strongly colored walls with a neutral shade of paint, such as off-white or beige. The same neutral scheme can be applied to carpets and linoleum.
• Checking for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
• Repairing cracks, holes or damage to plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint, and tiles.
• Replacing broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings, and other woodwork. Inspecting and repairing the plumbing, heating , cooling, and alarm systems.
• Repairing dripping faucets and showerheads. Buying showy new towels for the bathroom, to be brought out only when prospective buyers are on the way.
• Sprucing up a kitchen in need of more major remodeling by investing in new cabinet knobs, new curtains, or a coat of neutral paint.