Hood River Real Estate Update

If you want to sell your home here are some things to check on to prepare your home for marketing.

• Odors- Make sure your home doesn't smell. This is a main turn off for home buyers, whether odors are from cigarette smoke, wood stove smoke, cooking and grease smells, mold & mildew, or pet odors, you need to eliminate them and make sure your house has no unpleasant odors.
• Dark homes- Dimly lit homes are not inviting to most buyers. Buyers want to see the rooms with curtains & blinds open. They want to see the views & yard out the windows. Open up the drapes and let the natural light in. If paint colors are very dark, you may consider repainting in a light neutral color. Turn on some lights for the showing, but you don't need to get carried away. I've shown houses where virtually every single light, table lamps, bedside lamps, night lights, etc. was left on. I suggest turning on main lighting and some accent lighting but it's not necessary to turn on every single lighting fixture. Make sure all your windows are sparkling clean inside and out too.
• Dirty bathrooms- Dirty bathrooms are especially unappealing. Make sure your toilet, tub, shower, & sink are scrubbed clean. Put out fresh rugs and towels. Buy a new shower curtain if needed. Clean the windows and mirrors until they shine.
• Dirty kitchens- Same thing goes for kitchens. Buyers don't want to see a sink full of dirty dishes, and crumbs all over the countertops. Keep your kitchen especially clean, including appliances and it will leave a great impression.
• Busy Wallpaper- Wallpaper is such a personal choice it can be distracting to most buyers. You need to appeal to a wide variety of people when you're selling your home. You may want to consider removing dated wallpaper or borders and repainting in neutral colors.
• Bugs- Any kind of bug is a huge problem with good marketing of your home. If you have a serious insect or rodent infestation-cockroaches, ants, spiders, mice, rats, etc. Please call a professional exterminator and eradicate the problem for good.
• Gutters- Make sure your gutters are cleaned out. Buyers may wonder what else hasn't been maintained if they see clogged gutters with plants growing in them.
• Damp basement- Any damp smells in the basement may cause buyers to wonder if there are foundation leaks or drainage problems. These are not things most buyers want to deal with. You may want to check for clogged underground drains, install gutters and downspouts if necessary to carry rain run off away from the foundation.
• Curb Appeal- Your house must grab a buyers interest. Make sure your house makes a good first impression. Often buyers don't even want to go into a house with a messy yard, peeling paint, sagging doors, etc. Spend a little time on the first impression details that will set your home apart from the others.
• Sellers Who Hang Around for Showings- Home buyers are more comfortable if the owners are not present during showings. Do the agent a favor and leave the house during showings. Buyers like to look around, open closet doors, ask their agent questions, etc. and often feel awkward if the sellers are present.

Most of these things can be done without spending much money. If you are planning on putting your home on the maket, prepare your home before you list.