You get one chance to make a first impression and it begins when prospective buyers pull into the driveway! Here are some tips to make your house the one they want to see inside!

The goal is not only to make your house the most attractive but to avoid "issues" on a contractor's inspection! Hence being somewhat fanatical is a great idea!

Summer
Mow the lawn, edge the gardens and sidewalks. It's impossible to have too many flowers around the front entrance.

Winter
Snow everywhere but not on your driveway and sidewalks. Aside from the aesthetics, this is a liability issue. I once had to cancel an Open House because the owner could not possibly keep up with the snowfall and the walks were dangerously slick.

Exterior
Downspouts extended away from the house. This is a frequent cause of water in basements.(if you don't do this now an inspector will note it and you'll then have an unnecessary "issue". Gutters cleaned. Trim and exterior painted if they look shabby!

Windows
Washed and sparkling inside and out.

Garage
Cleaned, swept and neat. Keep the doors closed.

Clutter
The look you want is spacious. If there's just too much furniture rent a storage locker and move it out. Been there, done that. I came home from vacation just before our house was to go on the market and discovered that my daughter had stripped it! Overloaded bookcases were cleaned out - she left the complete works of William Shakespeare. I was pleased that she thought them necessary for my intellectual well-being. This includes cupboards and closets. If your closet looks as if you could not possibly stuff one more blouse in there buyers see "too small".

Clean
How do I say this? Clean the entire house, then again and then once more! Prospective purchasers never have dust bunnies. Kitchen and bathrooms must be spotless.

Warm/fuzzy
The impression you want to create is one of warmth and friendliness. Yes, leave the family photos out. (buyers love to look at them) Yes, hide the firearms and hunting trophies. If you have a closet that you can lock that's the place for guns.

Pets
Best if they can be caged or out of the house. A barking dog can be a real turn-off and frightening to many children.

Pet odors
Do whatever you have to but get rid of it. If that requires replacing carpet just do it! There is perhaps nothing as offensive. Clean the kitty litter every day.

Mechanical
Just go ahead and call your furnace company. Have it cleaned, the flame adjusted and the heat exchanger checked. If you don't do it now the purchasers inspector will note any problems and there's another "issue" to resolve.

Radon
If you've questions about this the September 2000 issue of Johns Hopkins Magazine will bring you up to date. EPA recommends mitigation if the level is higher than 4 pico curies radon per liter of air. You may not care about this - surprisingly I've heard many physicians pooh-pooh it. Nonetheless trust me on this one. The buyers will care and there you are again - another "issue". It's an inexpensive fix. Spend the $90 +/- and have it tested before you put the house on the market. If the reading exceeds EPA standards, just fix it! Another "issue" disappears.

Little things
Lights must work, hallways be bright. Replace those 60 watt bulbs. Fix any broken door locks.

Now that you've done all of this, why are you selling such a wonderful house?