One of the most important elements in the process of selling your home is its condition. It is also one of two things in your control that you can change.

The three elements of selling are price, condition and location. While location influences price you have no control over it. As the saying goes, you can change a house, but you can't change its location.

A thorough review of the house and property should be made in advance of putting the house on the market. Those things that you can afford to fix, repair or replace should be done. Cleaning and painting are two musts on any list. Freshly painting a house in a neutral color is one of the most important things that can be done to make a house look its best. Failing to completely clean prior to painting however, will lessen the effect of the new paint job. Slapping some paint on the walls without cleaning makes it look just as it sounds. Awful!

Cleaning is one of the least expensive things that can be done to make a property show it best. Be sure to move furniture, fixtures or appliance to reach every nook and cranny in your cleaning. Put a shine on everything and maintain it that way until the property is sold.

Does your house pass the smell test? Have someone who doesn't live in the house give you an honest opinion. Pet and smoke odors are two of the most offensive to many buyers. Pet odors may mean that you'll need to thoroughly clean your carpets and upholstered furniture. If the carpeting is beyond cleaning it may be necessary to replace it. Odor from smoking is a tough cleaning task as smoke finds its way into everything, often covering walls and fixtures with a visible film of nicotine. In some worst cases it may be best to hire a professional who specializes in that field.

Don't forget outside of the house. All exterior painting should be checked, scraped and repainted if necessary. The exterior extends to the yard, where keeping the grass cut and the gardens freshly mulched and tidied are tasks to complete. Overgrown and neglected plantings should be attended to and made to look presentable.
These are just a few of the things that fall under the heading of condition when you are selling your home.

For more complete information see our video, Strategies for Selling Your Home, which can be found online at www.ShowMeHowVideos.com

Charles Kraus, GRI
Associate Broker
RE/MAX Advantage
Columbia, MD
(410) 224-8484