PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE in Maryland and Northern Virginia.

Home buyers in Maryland and Northern Virginia have many homes to consider buying. We want to help you make sure YOUR home is the one they buy. A few tips to help you
prepare may make the difference in getting an offer, getting a good offer and getting to settlement.

The important word in preparing your home for sale is "WELCOME".

buying a new home

Welcome buyers by:

Accurate Listing Information in the MLS
Check your listing report to make sure it is accurate. No one knows your home better than you, the owner.

Key Box Access
Make sure your home is accessible during the showing hours of each day. Key boxes are essential to access. Many homes would sell much faster than they do if the home could be seen easily. Making buyers and their agents jump through hoops to preview your home doesn't help sell.

Curb Appeal. The Exterior Is The First View
Grass and plantings should be kept well trimmed. Grass that is not cut and trimmed will often cause a prospective buyer to just keep driving. Landscaping should be trimmed so that prospective buyers know that landscaping has been well maintained. Make sure the front door lock and door knob work properly and that the key box is easily found.

Pick Up and Put Away - Neatness Counts
If you're home during the day, just keep things put away. If everyone is away for the day, do a final walk through each morning and make sure that the house is neat;

Final inspection before leaving daily.
Beds made.
Dishes washed and put away or in dish washer.
Make sure wet towels are hung to dry..
Laundry should be in laundry baskets.
Remove extra furniture, books, decorator features to storage areas.
Make closets as neat as possible.
If the garage is used for storage, put items on shelves or in boxes.
Let in as much light as possible. Bright homes are more inviting.
If you have pets and can't be home during the day, invest in a pet carrier.
Put that hair curler away. Same with tooth paste and all toiletry items.

Final maintenance items
Make sure all light bulbs are working.
Clean the fireplace if one is used.
If the grout in the bathrooms shows any signs of mold or mildew, treat and repair.
Make sure the filters in the heating and cooling units are replaced often.

If prospective buyers spend time in the house, we want them to be discussing where to place their furniture.