Nick Carter

Awards: Top Producer 2017

Nick Carter

Laurie Carter

Awards: Top Producer 2017

Laurie Carter

Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about it most? When deciding how best to present your home for sale, it is helpful to try to get back into that buyer’s frame of mind.

A spruced-up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. Because buyers believe they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market.

A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to live there.

With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.

Plan Ahead

Create a plan to enhance your property. Those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers. Keep a notebook, and as you stroll through your home and yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, these efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far towards attracting serious buyers.

Here are some ideas for increasing your home’s appeal in order to sell it quickly at the best price:

Interior

Clean Everything: Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out, so clean everything, especially your windows and window sills. Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways, clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And put away your clothes.

Cut the Clutter: People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, neutral, and airy. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as pictures, valuables, and collectibles, and store or get rid of surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.

It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Closets: They’re an important consideration to many buyers. By storing clothing you won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look more spacious.

Paint: A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that will appeal to the most people possible, such as beige or white.

Carpet: Check its condition. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. It’s an easy and affordable way to help sell your home faster. Again, light, neutral colors, such as beige, are best. If you don’t replace it, you can suggest to potential buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned.

Repairs and Renovations: It’s best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you’re unlikely to recoup those costs in your selling price. Make minor repairs to items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, damaged gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken windows. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t take you seriously if your home improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or amateurish.

Leaks and Moisture: Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what repairs were made.

Exterior

Curb Appeal: The "Wow" factor — that first visual, high-impact impression your home makes on potential buyers — can turn a looker into a buyer. To determine your property’s curb appeal, drive through your neighborhood and note other properties; then approach your own house as if you were a potential buyer. How does it look? Does it "wow" you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers? Note what needs improving, such as trimming trees, planting shrubs, or painting gutters. Little things convey that you’ve cared for your home, and this is your opportunity to sell that important message to buyers who are shopping from the street, simply cruising neighborhoods looking for houses for sale. To get them through your door, do what you can to make your property look like someone’s dream home.

Paint/Stain: If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t remember the last time you painted it, your house needs some attention. That also goes for stain that is significantly faded. A newly painted or stained exterior will help sell your house faster, and whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.

In the Yard: Grab people’s attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.

  • Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees.
  • Keep your lawn looking healthy and green by mowing it often, fertilizing it, and keeping it edged and trimmed.
  • Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
  • Weed your gardens; add fertilizer and mulch and plant colorful flowers.
  • In winter, keep your driveway and sidewalks shoveled, de-iced, and well-lit.
  • Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair and paint fences.

The Front Door: An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and says, "Welcome," so highlight this area of your house with decorative touches, such as a wreath on the door or new shrubs and flowers around the steps. For an even grander entry, clean and paint your front door, or replace it with a new one for a few hundred dollars. Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs, repair torn screens, and then put out that new welcome mat.

Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:

Clean:

  • Windows, SIlls, and Screens
  • Walls and Floors
  • Tile
  • Ceilings
  • Cupboards and Drawers
  • Kitchen
  • Bathrooms
  • Light Fixtures
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Carpets and Rugs
  • Mirrors
  • Garage
  • Attic
  • Basement
  • Laundry Room
  • Yard
  • Gutters
  • Repalce Furnace Filter
  • Dust Furniture, TV, and Computer Screens
  • Closets
  • Remove Clutter and Pack Personal Items

Repair:

  • Leaky Faucets and Plumbing
  • Torn Screens
  • Slow Drains
  • Gutters
  • Loose Doorknobs
  • Loose Deck Boards
  • Broken Windows
  • Electrical Fixtures
  • Water Stain Damage
  • Broken Appliances
  • Damaged Walls and Ceilings
  • Worn Carpets and Rugs
  • Damaged Sidewalks and Steps

Improve:

  • Stain or Paint Deck
  • Store Tools
  • Roll up Garden Hose
  • Paint or Stain Exterior
  • Prune Bushes and Hedges
  • Trim Trees
  • Mow, Fertilize, Edge, and Trim Lawn
  • Weed Gardens, Plant Flowers
  • Shovel Driveways, De-Ice
  • Stack Firewood
  • Clean Birdbaths
  • Caulk Windows and Doors
  • Repair and Paint Fencing
  • Seal Asphalt Driveway
  • Make sure Doors Close Properly
  • Enhance Entryway
  • Replace "WELCOME" Mat

These elements are no secret – selling anything is about presenting it as favorably as possible, and a home is no exception. With the right REALTOR® and the right presentation, you may find that selling your home is a painless, quick, profitable process!

Nick and his team provide excellent services and deliver many qualified candidates to the property through professional marketing. In a tough seasonal market they provide constant marketing of the property through numerous media outlets.

Laurie Carter was a true professional and reliably optimistic throughout the purchase of our second home. At our first meeting she suggested the amount the house would go for and it was right on the money (and significantly less than the original asking price).

Our experience with Nick and Laurie while buying a home was very positive! They were fully prepared to show us homes that were within our range of style and they are extremely knowledgeable about the area. They really do always answer the phone and they are good listeners!! We worked mainly with Nick but Laurie was available immediately when we needed assistance and she went above and beyond to help us. They have wonderful personalities and make you feel relaxed and not rushed. We felt no pressure at all while touring homes and they were very patient and pleasant. They were also very accommodating to our needs, as our settlement attorney is located in Hockessin, DE. We absolutely love our new home and hope to never move, but if we do, we will definitely contact them again. Give them a call, you will not be disappointed!

I have sold three houses with Laurie and Nick and would go back to them for any future needs! I recommend them to any one looking for a real estate agent!

I want to thank the excellent Nick Carter Team. When we decided to place out home on the market we only considered Nick and Laurie. We knew they were very knowledgeable of our area and we also knew of their professional standards. Working with a knowledgeable and professional team led to a very successful sale of our home. Nick and Laurie kept us fully informed and provided suggestions that were instrumental in the quick sale of our home. They priced my home correctly, advertised often and were excellent to work with. We were very pleased. Thank you Nick and Laurie.

I WILL answer my phone

Whether you've found a property you want to see, are in the process of closing a purchase or have questions about selling your current home... we're ALWAYS available.

We've dedicated ourselves to providing immediate and dependable service; you can always count on us to be there when you're in need. Never hesitate to drop us a line at 302-228-NICK (6425).

Providing Local Real Estate Resources

While you're here, be sure to learn more about the area and browse our featured communities section. For more information about local real estate happenings, check out the real estate tools we provide.

If you're ready to dive into the local listings, use the Advanced MLS Search feature to see what's on the market now.

For more information about local real estate listings or the region in general, please never hesitate to contact the Nick Carter Team.