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For a seller, the spring can be an incredibly hectic time. Winter is often tough on houses and property; plows can turn driveways and yards into craters, salt eats away at metal railings and the constant moisture and cold wreaks havoc on pipes and siding. What was once a picture perfect house in the fall can be utterly unrecognizable come spring time, thanks to Old Man Winter.
However, prepping your home to sell this spring need not be a full-time job says Realtor Sal Cozzupoli of Chopper Russo Real Estate Group RE/MAX Traditions Real Estate in Oakland. Taking steps to prepare your house are key, he says. "The first thing you look at is the outside of a home when you pull up," he said. "It's Important to have everything look good, from the exterior to lawn maintenance, even minor eye-sores can cause a negative feeling from the get-go.
Simple steps go a long way in increasing curb appeal, he reminds. Cozzupoli recommends power washing the siding, painting worn areas, making sure all landscaping is neatly trimmed and removing all debris from the lawn. These steps aren't difficult, he says, but can go a long way in increasing the 'wow' factor.
Inside, Cozzupoli urges sellers to remove all clutter before showing a house. "Less is better," he said. "I always suggest that houses are cleaned throughout and painted with bright neutral colors." Having spent the past several months inside, many homeowners allow clutter to build, creating an instant turn-off for a buyer.
"You want to keep things less personalized," said Cozzupoli. "While I'm not saying take down all of your pictures off the walls, try and remove any personal touches and leave it as vanilla as possible. You want people to see themselves living there, not coming in as a guest. You don’t want to make up their mind, rather let them look at your house and come up with their own idea of what they want to do with it."
If the idea of prepping your house to sell this spring seems too tall an order, fear not. Cozzupoli and the Chopper Russo Real Estate Group swear by Ken Do It Home Improvements in Oakland. "Kenny is someone who can come in and do wonders quickly and affordably." Kenny can be reached at 201-803-6171.
