Ready for Resale

When prospective buyers look at your house they'll want to see a clean, well cared for home. So, before your house goes on the market, take some time to revamp it inside and out.

The Interior

• Organize and de-clutter. Throw, pack or give away anything you haven't used in the past three years. Store extra pieces of furniture and remove all objects from kitchen and bathroom counters (it will make the rooms look more spacious.)
  
  
• Make it shine. Shampoo carpets, wax floors, wash windows, doors, drapes, blinds and light fixtures. Clean the stove, microwave, refrigerator and showers. Paint walls if necessary.
• Repair. Fix dripping faucets and doors and cabinets that stick or creak. Replace light bulbs and electrical switches that don't work.
  

The Exterior
Winter may prevent you from making some improvements on the exterior of your home. However, if you can make the necessary improvements, or, if you're planning on selling in the spring or summer, keep the following tips in mind.

• Clean. Wash windows. Clear patio/deck of planters, flower pots, the barbecue and any other small items. Remove rusty outdoor furniture. Sweep all walkways.
  
  
• Put on a fresh coat of paint or touch up spots as needed.
• Maintain the yard. Trim bushes and weed gardens. Remove objects from the yard, like water hoses and toys.
  

When It's Time to Show and Tell
On the days your house is to be shown, take these last minute steps to make it more buyer-friendly.

• Brighten your home. Open shades, turn on the lights in dark rooms and hallways.
  
  
• Straighten up. Make sure beds are made and clothes are picked up. Wipe down counters, sinks and toilets. Vacuum. Remove pets. Eliminate odors.
  
  
• Make your house a home. Add some finishing touches, like fresh flowers.

Let Us Help You Buy a Home
It's not too soon to start thinking about a mortgage for your next home. We can help you find the mortgage that fits your needs.

Mortgage Dictionary

• Adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM): a mortgage in which the interest rate is adjusted periodically based on a pre-selected index.
• Conventional loan: a mortgage not insured by the FHA or guaranteed by the VA.
• 
  Fixed-rate mortgage: a mortgage on which the interest rate is set for the term of the loan.
  
• Lien: a claim against property. Property is said to be encumbered by a lien and it must be removed to clear the title.
• Market value: the highest price a buyer would pay and the lowest price a seller would accept on a property. Market value may be different from the price for which a property is actually sold.