Most potential buyers will do what we call a drive by, before actually asking to see the house. They will ride by the house to see what it looks like, and to see what the neighborhood is like. This is the first impression the buyer gets of your house, and you want it to be a good one. So, clean the siding, give the house a new coat of paint, add some bushes or potted flowers and keep your grass trimmed. This is called curb appeal.



Now that you have the owner's attention, you must concentrate on the inside. Complete any unfinished projects, as well as, make any repairs, which are necessary. The buyer will be more interested if they don't have to do any work before moving in. As part of this step, give the walls a fresh coat of neutral paint. You may be a fan of bright colors, but a neutral color will match anything the owner has.

It is very important to clean the house thoroughly. No buyer is going to get a good feeling if they find a cobweb on the ceiling or dust in the corners. They will associate dirt with the house. This is not the impression you want to give.

Along the lines of cleaning, exterminate your house. If you have a bug problem, you don't want the buyer to see this. Go to your home improvement store and pick up some items to eliminate the bugs, or hire an exterminator. No one wants to cohabitate with ants or spiders.

If your carpets are old, shampoo them. If they are worn, remove them. Wood floors will be more appealing than stained, beat up carpets. You want your floor to appealing also.

Next, remove all clutter. Clutter has a way of making a space look small and non-appealing. People will think the house has no storage space if everything is piled around.

You want the buyers to be able to picture themselves in this house, so remove all pictures of you and your family. This will be distracting to them, and they won't be able to look at it as their home. In addition, pack up any personal mementos and items. Also, take the pets to a friend's house.

Next, lighten things up. Pull back curtains and drapes and let the natural light in. Add extra lamps or use the highest watt bulbs allowed in existing ones. You want the house to be warm and inviting, not dark and dingy.

Pay particular attention to the kitchen and baths, because the buyer will. Make sure they are spotless and well lit. White is an ideal color for the walls, because it will look clean. If you don't have the money to do big renovations, you can add new lighting or change hardware. In the bathroom, add a new shower curtain and plush towels. These are two rooms that are important to buyers today.

Keep furniture in the house, if you can. It will be hard for the buyer to picture what the house will look like furnished, if it's empty. Also, an empty house will look cold and uninviting. You want to give the owner a warm, welcoming feeling.

You can't make someone buy your house, but you can make it appealing. By following the suggestions listed, you can make your house more marketable. If people are drawn to your house, they will want to buy it.