Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

SELLING YOUR HOUSE

If you are planning to sell your house this spring, or already have it on the market, remember that by making some minor home improvements it could help save you money by less time on the market.

Approach your house as a prospective buyer would. Drive up, park and walk to the front door. Is what you see inviting? Is it neat? Is it in good repair?

First impressions count. A prospective buyer may set his mind against buying even before entering the house, if its exterior is not welcoming.

So, trim the bushes and trees, weed the garden, mow the lawn, edge along the walk and flower beds. Wash windows on the inside and out so they sparkle. Clean doors and screens, sweep sidewalks, driveway and along other outside areas.

Pay special attention to the front entrance and foyer. Do all you can do to create a feeling of spaciousness and warmth.

Indoors, clean the entire house, but give special attention to the areas that prospective buyers examine the most kitchen, master bedroom and garage.

In the kitchen, clean appliances, replace broken parts and get everything in working order. Clear the counter top to give the appearance of more work space.

Wipe fingerprints and smudge marks from around wall switches and door frames. Wax floors and shampoo rugs; fix any dripping faucets. If soap or hard water deposits have built up on bathroom tiles or shower stalls, clean them up.

In the bedroom, clean the clutter out of closets and store out-of-season clothes elsewhere.

Clear the closet floor and organize the shelves to make the closets seem more spacious. Remove excess furniture from all rooms and open the draperies to make the house seem cheerful.

Store bikes, sports gear and lawn care equipment in an orderly fashion in the garage. Clear the floor of all spills. Do remove all unessential stored stuff from the garage and house even if you must pay a storage fee while you have it on the market.

The ultimate look is a clear, uncluttered house a look that may be time consuming to achieve, but certainly not costly.