How to deliver curb appeal

STEAMBOAT PILOT & TODAY

When potential buyers walk into a home for the first time, they don't just look at major features such as how big the house is or how close to town it is. They also notice the small details, from dust-free bookshelves, clean floors and tidy yards, to loose doorknobs, squeaky doors and cluttered corners.

Making a house look as nice as possible from the inside and outside can make the house more sellable, said Randall Hannaway, president of the Steamboat Board of Realtors and a broker and owner of Colorado Group Realty, Inc.

"People enjoy looking at homes and eventually tend to purchase the home that they can see themselves living in," Hannaway said. "If they're looking at a house and they walk in and it smells good, and the house is very tidy and clean and the yard is nice, they start visualizing what it would be like to live there."

Steps such as fixing broken screens and baking chocolate chip cookies just before prospective buyers stop by are all worth the effort when selling a home, Hannaway said.

A good place to start is with curb appeal, or making the house look its best from the outside. If the house is not appealing from the street, potential buyers may never step in the front door.

Making the yard attractive is a good place to start. That doesn't mean homeowners need to go out and plant a bunch of new trees, Hannaway said, but it does mean that what they have looks as nice as possible. A yard should be well-kept and neat. Trimming shrubbery and trees is a quick way to send the signal that the house has been cared for properly. Flowers and other plants are also a nice touch.

Porches, railings and walkways should be in good shape. Sellers should tighten anything that is loose. Fresh paint and nice-looking shutters can make a house stand out and catch a buyer's eye.

And though it may seem insignificant, sellers should be sure their home number is easy to see, making a buyer's tour of the house smooth from the start.

Everything inside and outside the house should be in working order. Now is the time to take on any little projects, such as gates that don't latch properly or closet doors that never quite shut.

"Fix the little things you haven't been done in awhile," Hannaway said.

Homeowners should consider rearranging furniture so that the home is properly staged. It could be helpful to call in a professional designer, or even just a friend with an eye for style.

One of the most important steps is getting rid of clutter. Hannaway suggested holding a garage sale or giving away extra knick-knacks and furniture. Or, if sellers can't part with some of their clutter, they should store it for a few months.

Besides having their homes in good shape, sellers should have all documentation - including manuals for hot water heaters and other appliances - handy to show buyers, and should consider doing a pre-sale inspection on the home. Having an inspection before the home is sold gives the seller a chance to fix things that need to be fixed, and then to assure the buyer that the house is in top shape.

Finally, when showing a home, sellers should not hang around but instead should let potential buyers look on their own. That way, buyers feel comfortable to talk about what they do and don't like about the home, a process that ultimately helps them make a good decision.

These steps don't take that much time or money, but are often overlooked by sellers who feel busy and stressed already, Hannaway said. But, taking these steps can go a long way toward a successful sale.

"It not only will help you sell faster, it typically will help you sell your house for a lot more money," Hannaway said.