| Before getting your house valuated think about the | | | | scrubbing brush it will probably be a good idea to get |
| list below and if you should implement them to | | | | your house power washed. Being inexpensive, this will |
| increase your house's value.Clean up your house: | | | | help get rid of the grime, dirt, and any other |
| Clean your house thoroughly. By this I mean do | | | | disgusting build up on your house.Temperature: |
| everything humanly possible to cleanse your house. | | | | Curtains and windows will help with insulation but to |
| Clean the windows, the sink, vacuum the floor, scrub | | | | really insulate your property you need to have a |
| the toilet, take out the trash, make sure nothing | | | | good insulator between walls such as fibreglass or |
| appears to be in a sloppy mess.Fix what can be seen | | | | foam. People will happily pay much more to be warm |
| before what can't: | | | | throughout the winter than spend the extra money |
| Quite a few people believe that its important to | | | | on heating, so by doing this the value of your house |
| work on the things you can see before the things | | | | can increase substantially.If excess heat is an issue |
| you can't, this attracts more buyers. For example | | | | then consider installing an air conditioner. Again, people |
| renovate the exterior before the interior before the | | | | will always pay extra to feel comfortable.Roofing: |
| creaky floor boards. If the house looks like a dump | | | | Going back to the idea of "fix what can be seen |
| from the outside most people will not be willing to | | | | before what can't", a roof improvement can be very |
| have a look around inside.Seal the driveway: | | | | beneficial to the value of your house. Firstly the roof |
| Do you have a gravel driveway? Do weeds pop up, | | | | needs to be cleaned, preferably power washed. If |
| do you find yourself constantly raking gravel, do find | | | | the roof is in that bad of a shape maybe a re-tiling is |
| that gravel manages to get into your house, do you | | | | in order.Things to think about before an open |
| get irritated by the loud noise of a car that's driving | | | | day.-Make sure you have a plan and know what your |
| on it makes? It may be time to end these problems | | | | doing on the day. Assign jobs to all family members |
| and increase your houses value by sealing your | | | | or flat mates to get things done quicker in case |
| driveway.Is the property secure? | | | | there is a showing scheduled with short notice.-Make |
| People will tend to pay more for a house they feel | | | | sure everything smells nice and fresh, if you smoke |
| safe in, so consider;- Installing a burglar alarm- | | | | do not smoke in your house for a few days before |
| Installing a fire alarm- Installing security doors- | | | | the auction. Open all the windows, use an air fresher |
| Installing secure and reliable locksDo you need new | | | | if you have to.-Get rid of all your pets for the day. |
| spouting? | | | | They can be a nuisance especially if they are over |
| Spouting will be one of the first things an appraiser | | | | friendly and may cause some allergic reactions.-Your |
| or buyer will notice when they look at your house. | | | | house should have a light and sunny atmosphere. Pull |
| You do not want them to see rusted, dirty, broken | | | | back all the curtains and blinds, turn lights if its dark or |
| spouting. Putting in new spouting will increase the | | | | rainy.-If you have the luxury of controlling the |
| value of your house and decrease the maintenance | | | | temperature of your house make sure the |
| required.Are your windows up to scratch? | | | | temperature is comfortable for all your guest.-Clean |
| Windows are a powerful tool in your home | | | | your house thoroughly. By this I mean do everything |
| improvement arsenal. If your windows are not | | | | humanly possible to cleanse your house. Clean the |
| aesthetically appealing or are in an awful state | | | | windows, the sink, vacuum the floor, scrub the toilet, |
| consider double-glazed windows, although possibly a | | | | take out the trash, make sure nothing appears to be |
| bit expensive, are a good improvement. They will | | | | in a sloppy mess.-Leave the open home unless your |
| provide your house with superior heat insulation and | | | | do not have a real estate agent there. If you have |
| sound insulation. If a room isn't getting much light, | | | | to stay, don't let the buyers know your the seller |
| consider enlarging the windows or putting in new | | | | and don't approach or smother them unless they |
| ones. This will make the room a lot warmer and, "light | | | | come to you. Try to stay out of their way.This |
| and bright" which appraisers and buyer love.Does the | | | | article is owned by and written by John Whiteside. |
| house need a power wash? | | | | Learn more about real estate investing, and how to |
| Unless you regularly clean your house with a | | | | create and use the equity in your home! |