Selling your house: curb appeal checklist

Now is the time to get your home ready on the outside if you are planning to sell it this Spring. Take a good look at your house and yard to see what everyone else sees. Where does the house need work? Is the temperature right for painting? Could some things need an update? Does the grass need repair?

Taking care of these things before you put the ‘For Sale’ sign in the front yard will put your mind at ease when the first wave of potential buyers stop by to take a look. Whether you realize it or not, the exterior can either invite the buyers in or turn them away. Let’s get the house in shape so they will come in and see what the interior has to offer.

Here’s the ‘Selling your house: curb appeal checklist’:

Yard and Garden Checklist

• Fertilize the grass, kill the weeds before the grass comes in green
• Trim the bushes
• Prune the trees
• Replace dead bushes or remove them and repair the ground
• Mulch the gardens
• Find an out-of-the-way spot for the garden hose
• Keep the garbage cans hidden
• Clean up the back yard
• Remove broken playground and patio items
• Repair and paint to match any broken parts in the fence surrounding your property
• Replace or remove the shed
• Clean out vegetable garden beds
• Tidy the wood pile

Exterior House Checklist

• Paint the front door
• Paint or wash all exterior doors
• Sweep the front porch
• Replace or repaint the mailbox
• Clean gutters and replace broken parts and down spouts
• Wash the windows
• Remove spider webs and mud dauber nests
• Replace or remove broken or rusted furniture on the front porch
• Wash the garage door and replace damaged sections
• Replace burned out light bulbs
• Clean or replace outdoor light fixtures
• Clean roof tiles
• Power wash siding, mildewed porch railings and trim
• Power wash driveway and walkways

What’s missing? Anything? Add your comments below.