Most people understand the notion of staging your home’s interior prior to marketing but do you realize that staging begins outside?  Why spend both time and money beautifully staging the interior if your home doesn’t invite the customer in!  For this reason, it is important to look at the exterior of your home as critically as you do inside, and perhaps more importantly.  The buyer’s decision to enter your home and the emotion it invokes makes a big difference.

In warm weather, tidy the yard removing distracting items such tree limbs, broken plantings and dead flowers.  Be sure the lawn is weed-free and freshly manicured at all times.  Mulch bushes and flower beds.  Dress up the front with colorful, flowering plants.  Be sure to address areas such as the walkway and driveway as well for uneven areas of wear or intrusion of moss or other natural flora.  Powerwash the exterior of the house or paint as needed.  For a double bonus both inside and out, wash windows until they sparkle.  Make sure the gutters are properly connected and cleaned of leaves and other debris.  Move children’s toys and yard equipment to the rear of the house.  Check to be sure that light bulbs in lighting fixtures are working properly.  Take a walk around the exterior of the house and note any item that may need repair such as rotted window sills, vinyl siding that has come undone, compromised or broken seals on windows and trim or siding that either needs replacement.

In inclement weather, be sure that walkways and stairs are clear of snow and ice.  When possible, clear dirt and sand away from these same areas.  Make sure that your driveway is plowed and wide enough to allow customers to safely and easily get in and out of their vehicle.  Check that your house street number is prominently displayed or large enough for viewing.  Keep your ‘for sale’ yard sign upright and cleared of snow or leaves.

When you have concluded all the exterior primping, ask your real estate sales agent to take pictures from different angles and at different times during the day.  Walk to the front of your house and view your home as a potential buyer would do.  Note that shutters, mailboxes, steps, windows, roof, siding and lighting all come together to give an impression of the condition and maintenance of the interior of the house. 

For more information contact us at:  Goodwin Realty Group