Seven Steps To Make House Sell For Top Dollar
- Robert Bruss
From the Contra Costa Times Real Estate Supplement, May 1999

  1. Paint inside and outside. Spending a few hundred dollars, or even a few thousand dollars if you have a large house, on fresh paint will be the most profitable improvement you can make.

    Even if you home doesn't really need paint, paint it anyway, interior and exterior.

    Indoors, use a light, neutral color. Interior walls should be off-white. A decorator's trick is to paint the ceilings a lighter white to make the rooms look larger.

    Use semi-gloss white on doorframes and other woodwork, bathrooms and the kitchen. Tasteful wallpaper can add interesting accents, as can mini-blinds on the windows.

    Outdoors, use neutral colors, nothing vivid such as yellow, pink or blue.

    A contrasting color on the trim adds interest. Drive around your neighborhood to see which colors are most attractive.

  2. Install new light fixtures. Another inexpensive but very profitable home improvement is to replace old, outdated light fixtures with the latest styles.

    Visit a home improvement center to see what's available.

    New light fixtures, especially at the front door, are usually very inexpensive, compared to the value added to your house or condo.

  3. Check carpets and floors. Worn carpets, linoleum, tile and hardwood floors can be often replaced or repaired inexpensively.

    A few hundred, or even a few thousand, dollars spent on flooring will usually return many times the cost in increased market value of your home.

    If you have hardwood floors, refinish them so they sparkle.

  4. Refresh landscaping. If you're selling a house, check the landscaping to see if it needs "refreshment".

    View your yard through the eyes of a prospective buyer. An unattractive front or back yard will often repel a serious buyer who lacks imagination as to how nice your residence can look.

    Remember the old saying, "You only have one chance to make a favorable first impression."

  5. Make necessary unprofitable repairs. If your residence needs an obvious repair, such as a bad-looking roof that isn't yet leaking, replace it before listing the home for sale.

    If you don't, the buyer will discount the offer price far more than the cost of the repair or replacement. Worse, the buyer might not even make an offer.

  6. Obtain a professional inspection report. Most home buyers make their purchase offers contingent on a satisfactory professional inspection report.

    To avoid surprises, before listing your home, obtain your own professional inspection report.

    If it reveals unexpected problems, such as the need for new gutters, have them replaced before putting your home up for sale.

    Showing the inspection report to prospective buyers often reassures them your home is in good condition.

    The best inspectors usually belong to the American Society of Home Inspectors. To obtain names of nearby ASHI members, call 800-743-2744.

  7. Clean and paint the garage or carport. The most overlooked but very important area of your residence is the garage or carport.

    If you use it for storage (rather than parking your car), get rid of your junk. Rent a storage locker so you can actually park your car.

    Here's a profitable but inexpensive tip: If your garage is not finished with wallboard, have a handyperson install it. Paint it white.

    Also, paint the cement garage or carport floor with concrete-floor red or gray paint to turn the ugliest garage into a sharp, clean sales incentive.
    Summary Cleaning and fixing your residence for sale will be time and money well spent. If you want top dollar for your house or condo, get it into tip-top "model home" condition before listing your home for sale.