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Preparing Your Home To Sell

Select a Quality Realtor
First State Realty is prepared to assist you in marketing your home in a professional manner.

Our fully licensed brokerage will take the problems and concerns out of selling by offering quality service.

When you're ready to sell your farm, business, or your home, First State Realty is ready to go to work for you. We'll list your property, assist in establishing an offering price and place your home on the market. We can help obtain appraisers, financing, legal documents and the follow up work required with selling your home.

We will advertise your property in a number of ways including print media, displays, lawn signs, descriptive offering sheets and of course on our web site www.fsbmapleton.com/realty/index.php

We usually have an ongoing list of potential buyers seeking properties in our area. Many people are prospective buyers. Farmers or business people are always looking for new or expansion parcels and people who have homes are looking to move up to a larger or newer home.

First State Realty will show your property to prospects at times arranged with you. We want to present your property in its best light to obtain the highest possible price for you!

As your agent, we will handle negotiations throughout the “offer and counter-offer” process. When an agreement is made, we will make all the arrangements for you until the sale is final.

Prepare Your Home To Sell
Careful preparation of your home is vital to a successful sale. Experts recommend that you look at your home objectively and carefully examine its condition. Identify its strengths and weaknesses. Consider improvements when possible and learn to accentuate the positives of your property. Ask your professional realtor's opinion.

You can make extra money on your home by your “preparation to sell” efforts!

Paint - A fresh coat of neutral color paint is probably the least expensive method to improve your home and assure a successful sale.

Front Entry - Take a look at your home from across the street. How do you think potential buyers view it as they drive by. First impressions are very important and you want them to be inviting to prospects. Consider repainting the front door, put 100 watt bulbs in the front entry and yard lights.

Yard - Toys, bikes and other objects should not be left in the yard. If you have a pet be sure your lawn is clear of their messes. Your lawn should be mowed regularly, weeds removed, shrubs trimmed and trees pruned.

Driveway - A car in the driveway detracts from the curb appeal of the home. You want your driveway to appear as large and inviting as possible to people who come to see your home. Try to remove dirt and stains from the drive to make it look more presentable.

Roof and Gutters - Before you list your home you should examine the roof gutters and downspouts. Repair or replace loose or broken shingles. Be sure that gutters and downspouts are free of debris and secured properly. Consider repainting if needed.

Patios/Porches - Keep your patio or porch free of clutter, toys, etc. Repair cracks in concrete and examine landscaping around the area. Patio furniture should be clean and painted if necessary.

Windows - Windows should be clean and sills, trim, shutters, etc. should be freshly painted and in good condition. Any cracked or broken windows should be replaced.

Bathrooms - A small investment in repair work in your bathrooms can reap rewards for a home seller. Stained or dirty bathroom vanities, tubs, showers, faucets and sinks are unattractive to most people. Clean or replace tile grout and replace worn or moldy shower curtains. Replace all used towels and wash cloths with fresh ones before your home is shown.

Closets/Storage - The amount and type of closets and storage spaces are important considerations in home buying decisions. Be sure to remove clutter from closets and consider the purchase of a closet organizer. They can be found at any hardware store and can double the amount of usable storage space. This will cause the closet to appear more spacious and organized.

Kitchen - For some reason few kitchens have enough counter space. We suggest that you remove as many items as possible from the counter while your home is for sale.

Compliment Other Rooms - Take a critical look at all rooms in your home to determine what you can do to enhance their appeal to prospective buyers.

Consider the traffic flow and the amount of furniture in each room. Too much furniture can make a room appear smaller or cause distractions to the buyers.

Be aware of your floor space. You don't want potential buyers having to step over toys or other items while viewing your home.

Clean, paint or repair where necessary.

Use neutral colors and decorate with selected refinements to add color.



More Do-It-Yourself Improvements To Enhance Your Sale!
  1. Paint walls and floors in your basement if it is unfinished.
  2. Paint exposed rusted or dirty water and gas pipes.
  3. Wipe down the furnace and water heater with a damp sponge.
  4. Texture and paint ceilings that appear uneven or in need of repair.
  5. If your hardwood floors are not in good condition have them sanded, stained and sealed.
  6. Install ceiling fans.
  7. Install new cabinet hardware in kitchen and bathrooms to enhance their appeal.
  8. Install new light switch plates.
  9. Glue down loose or curling wallpaper.
  10. Install a brass knocker or kick plate in your front door.
  11. Add shutters or paint existing shutters.
  12. Purchase a new welcome mat
  13. Add a new centerpiece to your dining room table.
  14. Install a new mail box and house numbers.
  15. Bring light in! An open, airy look is desired throughout the house and especially in the kitchen.
  16. Add landscaping, timbers, borders and fresh mulch to trees and shrubs. Trim hedges and prune dead branches.
  17. Flatten out wrinkles in wall-to-wall carpet by renting a carpet layer's tool called a “knee kicker”.




Moving Day

  • If moving to a new community, establish new banking relationships and activate your account to be accessible to accommodate your moving day needs.

  • Request change of address cards from your postman and send your forwarding address to the local post office. Also send change of address cards to: friends, merchants, insurance companies, magazines and others with whom you do business.
  • Request termination of the following services and give the date you wish services terminated: Gas, Electricity, Water, Telephone, Cable TV, Refuse Service & Newspaper Delivery.
  • Apply for a property tax Homestead Exemption at the County Assessors Office.
  • Leave keys for your property with the real estate agent or neighbors.
  • Leave your new address with the real estate agent.
  • Contact the utility companies in the city to which you are moving and inquire about the necessary fees or deposits required for installation of services.
  • Notify your place of worship that you are leaving.
  • Transfer your insurance on household goods and personal possessions so that they are properly covered enroute and at your new home.
  • Notify the principal of your children's school about your intended move. Request a letter describing the status of your children in school.
  • Obtain all medical and dental records and eyeglass prescriptions.
  • Arrange sufficient cash or traveler's checks to cover the cost of moving services and expenses until you make banking connections in the city to which you are moving.
  • Obtain birth and baptismal records for your children.
  • Request shot records for your pets from your veterinarian.