There are several important things to consider when it comes time for selling your Berkeley home. And one of these is the condition of your house both inside and out. I think we can all agree that no matter what market condition you're faced with at the time of your sale, a well maintain home with good curb appeal will sell much more quickly and yes, for more money. Something I think no homeowner would argue is a welcome situation indeed.

Therefore, it's definitely in your best interest to do what you can to put your home's best foot forward, so to speak, when you're selling your home in Berkeley or anywhere. So, let's take a look at just one area where you can begin to examine your house with the eye of a perspective buyer or real estate agent who might be entering your home for the very first time. And next, we'll talk about some of the changes you might need to consider before you even call that Realtor.

First Impressions

When looking at your house, the thing you need to keep repeating to yourself is that “first impressions are lasting impressions.” This couldn’t be truer when it comes to selling your Berkeley home. So keep this thought in mind at all times while preparing for the sale of your home.

So, begin by taking a look at what types of inexpensive cosmetic improvements you could make for an overall improvement in curb appeal. These can include things such as cleaning, painting, refinishing, and other simple changes. These are the projects that don’t require all that much capital, and yet make an immeasurable improvement to the overall look and feel of your home.

We're not talking about tackling a whole bunch of huge projects. Just focus on making your property attractive, clean, presentable, and well maintained. Let the new owners do their own major improvements or customizations.

Tip of the Day - Beautify the Front Entrance

This includes the front door, porch, windows, sidewalk and surrounding flowers and shrubbery. These are the gateway into your home from the outside for perspective buyers as well as Realtors who will be appraising your property for listing.

Remember, there will be a moment where the Berkeley real estate agent knocks on the door, or unlocks it before opening, where they all pause right there at the entrance. At this very moment in time, they will likely get a very close-up, very detailed first impression.

This entry area is also an important focal point when it comes to curb appeal, so be absolutely certain that it's in tip-top shape. This is where the future owners will enter their new home and welcome their guests. Therefore It's an extremely important aspect in selling your home, especially when it comes to pleasing the eye and touching the heart.

Sprucing Up the Entryway

The door itself must look sharp. A fresh coat of paint, if needed, will make all the difference in the world when it comes to setting the mood for a pleasant, inviting, and well-maintained home.

Be certain that the hardware including the doorknob, the latch, doorknockers, hinges, etc are all freshly painted or polished. It gives an extra level of overall attractiveness.

Other useful steps to improve the entryway...

• A freshly painted/replaced mailbox
• Bright, functioning porch lights
• A new inviting welcome mat (After all it's called a welcome mat so make sure it looks just that.)
• Well-maintained and colorful flowers or shrubbery
• Working doorbell if you have one or remove it altogether if nonfunctioning