How to Prepare Your San Diego Home for Sale, Part I

Selling your home in San Diego, CaWhen it's time to put your San Diego home up for sale, you have two main goals: Selling quickly and for the best possible price. Today's buyers have many choices... so you need your home to stand out in a crowded market. The best way to accomplish this? Taking the time to prep your home for sale. A few simple steps can make the difference between a house that's just OK and a home that's one in a million.

In part one of a two-part series, we'll show you how to make your home shine. Let's get started outside!

Curb Appeal is Key

You've likely heard the old cliché "don't judge a book by its cover." Unfortunately, that's exactly what house hunters do. You really do only have a single chance to make a great first impression, so spend some time making your home's first impression memorable.

Start by getting in your car, driving around the block, and then pulling up in front of your home. Pretend you're the home buyer who's never seen this particular house before. What's your first impression? Does the yard look neat and tidy? Is the home's exterior well-maintained? Does it look like the residents care about and take care their home? Make note of any issues, such as broken shutters, loose roof shingles, saggy siding, peeling paint, or dead plants that need to be removed. Take care of these fixes right away, because if you notice them, potential home buyers will too.

San Diego curb appealNow it's time to do some general cleaning up of your home's exterior and yard. Rent a pressure washer to get rid of grime on your home's siding, porch and steps. (Don't forget the rain gutters!) Next, clean the windows thoroughly, both inside and out, until they shine.

How's your lawn looking? Grab your pruning shears and cut back any overgrown trees or bushes. Mow the lawn and weed the flower beds. Speaking of flower beds, are they colorful and cheerful? You may want to invest in some brightly colored flowers to create visual appeal.

A Welcoming Entry

Now that your home's outside and your landscaping are in ship shape, focus on the entryway. Your goal: to make it as inviting as possible. Consider giving the door a fresh coat of paint in a color that complements the siding. A new welcome mat or a cheerful wreath will freshen up your entry way, as will a few pots of flowers lining the front walkway or stairs.

You may also want to consider replacing or renovating any entry light fixtures. It's easy to overlook these lights, but over time they can get rusty and dated looking. Installing a new light, or painting your existing fixture, will brighten up the entry way and welcome potential buyers in.

These inexpensive upgrades can make a big difference to your curb appeal — and help you get your San Diego home sold for top dollar.

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