Most sellers find a need to tend to the garage. The exterior will need to be freshened, like painting the door. When taking a quick drive past to check out a home, minor details of the house will stick out. If your home is currently on the market, ensure that its exterior has fresh paint, the lawn is well manicured without looking too high maintenance, your windows are washed, and that you do not have any dead flowers in your garden. This is also a good time to trim or prune trees.
THE ROOF IS JUST AS IMPORTANT
Roofs are selling points, no-sale points, and bargaining chips in negotiations. Optimally, your roof is five to ten years old. Anything older or in poor condition is a major problem—buyers do not want to buy a home that is going to require such an expensive maintenance investment as roof repair right off the bat. Buyers will expect a roof over their head that is in good condition. Bring in a roofing professional prior to listing the home who can tell you exactly what needs to be done, such as re-shingling. They can make small improvements to enhance appearance and repair areas of neglect. Gutters, particularly box gutters on older houses, must be in good repair. Be prepared to calculate repairs in your listing price, but do not expect to get dollar-for-dollar back on roofing. Still, roof maintenance may help the home sell at a better price than it otherwise would have. A savvy buyer will know to have the house inspected for any faults prior to a sale, so making all necessary repairs beforehand will ensure that the sales process will go faster, smoother, and without surprises.
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