Get A CLUE To Sell Your Home
Preparing your home for sale requires planning and organization. Be aware of what buyers might notice. “Getting your home ready for sale shows that the home was well maintained and cared for. Most buyers expect to tour and eventually purchase a clean, well-cared for home. Make your home as attractive as possible,” said Bonnie Lee, VP of property claims at Mercury Insurance.
Eliminate clutter – Throw away, donate or sell items that are no longer purposeful. Depersonalize and remove any large visual distractions such as large, distinct artwork or family photos. Bulkier furniture can change the perceived size of a room. Make sure buyers are able to walk around living spaces without bumping into furniture.
Deep clean – Deep clean, especially in areas like the kitchen and bathrooms. Home buyers can detect when candles are being used to mask unpleasant scents of a home. Keeping your home clean will boost that ever-important first impression and maximize the selling cost.
Make small repairs – Go through each room and touch up dings on baseboards or doors. Make minor repairs like filling in and repainting holes left in the walls from hanging items. Check for leaking faucets or running toilets and replace worn or damaged caulking around sinks, showers, bathtubs or windows.
Curb appeal – Trim any trees or shrubs outside of your property, especially along walkways, for a well-manicured look. Keep walkways, driveways and porches free of clutter. Replace or repair damaged screens or windows and make sure house numbers are visible.
Get a CLUE – A Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report provides a detailed history of any insurance claims filed on the house within the last seven years. This report can be useful to buyers and sellers. “Sellers can use a CLUE report as a selling tool to give potential buyers the assurance that they are not buying a home with a history of problems,” Lee says.
Under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, you can request a copy of your CLUE report from LexisNexis by calling 1-866-312-8076 or by visiting consumer.risk.lexisnexis.com. (BPT)
