Fitzgerald Realty & Auctioneers
William J. Fitzgerald

27 Free & Easy Fix-Ups To Sell Your Home For The Best Price

Setting the Stage to Sell

Your home will sell. There's no question about that - in today's market or tomorrow's, good or bad. However, if you put your home on the market without preparing it for sale, you may have a long wait for an offer. You also may not realize your home's greatest return on investment.

You don't have to turn your pocket inside out to get it ready to sell. Some money may be necessary for painting, replacing worn woodwork, carpeting, cabinet doors or repairing broken fixtures or appliances.

There are, however many fix-ups that cost absolutely nothing - except a little time and elbow grease. These fix-ups will make all the difference in whether or not your home makes the most of itself. Here are a few tips for getting your home ready to show itself off to your pocketbook's best advantage:

OUTDOORS 

1. Spruce up all around the house. Keep lawn and shrubbery trimmed and free of bicycles and other clutter. Keep the garden beds weeded and mulched.

2. Put flowering pots on the front step and keep watered and trimmed.

3. Fill potholes in your driveway and tidy up walkways.

4. Clean off your outdoor furniture; remove any rust (or toss out the rusted item).

5. Clear the garage of everything but cars. If yours has become a two car attic, throw out the excess.

6. Straighten gutters, the TV antenna, the fence - and other things that sag.

7. Fix doorbells, tighten loose doorknobs, and oil squeaking hinges.

8. Repair broken windows and shutters.

INDOORS  

9. Clean everything in and out of sight. Shampoo rugs and wax floors. Wash or brush walls. Wash windows and clean blinds and draperies.

10. Weed clutter out of closets and cupboards.

11. Create space by storing some of the extra furniture you've found useful (bureaus, bookcases, storage chest, oversized chairs) but which makes a crowded impression.

12. Place the remaining furniture so that traffic can flow easily from room to room.

13. Unless you're a skilled artist, scale down you personal art work (portaits, landscapes), posters, signs, and family photos, especially in teenagers' rooms. Create a feeling of spaciousness.

14. Keep shades and draperies open, to let in as much light as possible, but screen out unappealing views.

15. Let your kitchen look warm and welcoming, not a hectic workplace. Keep your sink shining and free of dirty dishes at all times.

16. Organize cupboards.

17. Clean the refrigerator.

18. Keep counter tops clear, but not empty (as if unused); adorn them with your most attractive canisters.

19. Completely degrease your oven. Let the kitchen smell fresh and fragrant (with cinnamon warming in the clean oven, if you have time).

20. Remove debris (dust, flies, moths, etc.) from light fixtures.

21. Keep bathrooms scrubbed, tidy and equipped with fresh soap and neatly hung towels (matching, if possible).

22. Get rid of all stains and install new washer on dripping faucets.

23. Feature (with lighting or furniture arrangement) your home's best characteristics (a fireplace, a picture window, a balcony, ceiling beams, a kitchen eating area, etc).

24. If you've repainted (preferably in safe neutral tones), add bold splashes of color (with your brightest throw pillows, crockery, pictures, etc.).

25. Place plants in strategic spots in any room - the bigger the more glamorous, if space permits.

26. Light the whole house, especially dark corners and hallways.

27. Hang mirrors where they will reflect outdoor light - as well as make a room look larger.

As your neighborhood real estate specialist we can show you any home for sale in the area, or advise you on selling your home.

Please feel free to call us with any of your real estate questions.

1-800-MR. LISTER (675-4783)

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What our clients are saying  

We had great service, we would recommend to family & friends, would work with again, very helpful and went the extra mile to help, very friendly, professional and answered all our questions, returned our calls, emails and text messages very quickly, very reliable and efficient, extremely helpful & informative, very knowledgeable.

 

~ Randy and Jill Stauffer/St. Mary's Seller

Billy was the best, helped me with everything and got it done. I'm very happy and satisfied.

 

~ Joe Young / St. Mary's Buyer

Very good experience with Fitzgerald Realty & Auctioneers.

 

~ Rick Greer/St. Marys Buyer

Billy got the job done!

 

~ Wally Yowaiski/St. Mary's Seller

Fitzgerald Realty helped us find the home we wanted to invest in and guided us through the process of buying it. Settlement was conveniently done in their office and went very smoothly. We are planning to purchase again through this company. Thanks Billy

 

~ Tom & Betty Campbell/St Mary's Buyer

I reached out to Fitzgerald to find a rental for myself and two kids. I spoke first to Office MGT. , she was very helpful. She then put me in good hand with Mark Thompson. He was helpful, showed me property, answered all my questions, punctual and any time was a good time for him. He definitely was there to help! Thank you so much and when I'm ready to do the whole buying of a house goal I will definitely be calling up Fitzgerald Realty :)

 

~ Leighann Myers / St. Marys Renter

Billy Fitzgerald was very diligent in keeping us informed on the status of the sale and the settlement for the property that we had for sale. He currently has one other listing for us and feel confident that he will be successful in finding a buyer for this property as well. We will certainly recommend Fitzgerald Realty to our family and friends.

 

~ Linda Tyler / St. Marys Seller

I want to thank you for getting my Townhouse sold. The way you took the photos, listed it and being "straight" with me on the asking price made all the difference. I also want to thank you for the excellent service I received while in your capable hands. You are a TRUE SOUTHERN MARYLAND GENTLEMAN and an OUTSTANDING Real Estate Agent. Again, Thank you Billy ....

 

~ Carolyn "Judy" Bakewell / St. Marys Seller

We had great service! We would recommend Billy to family & friends. He was very helpful and went the extra mile to help and would work with again. He was very professional, friendly and answered all our questions. He would return our calls, emails & text messages very quickly. He was extremely helpful, reliable & efficient, also very informative & knowledgeable. I give him 5 stars!

 

~ John Taylor / St. Marys Seller

Good professional, courtesies service. The agent went to bat for me on every opportunity. After the deal was struck Billy aka (COL) did all that was expected and moved rapidly to wrap to entire transaction up. My family appreciated working with Billy and the Fitzgerald Real Estate family and we would recommend their services to others.

 

~ Mark Steedley / St. Marys Buyer

Billy went far beyond what anyone else before him did. Billy is a great person and will be the only one I ever recommend!

 

~ Craig Tiburzi / St. Marys Buyer

Amazingly when I saw a Fitzgerald Sign in the front of property I had to have, I reached out to Mr. Billy Fitzgerald and in less than a month the necessary people were contacted to assist in a short wait to closing. I would gladly recommend The Fitzgerald Realty & Auctioneers to family and friends.

 

~ Brian Small / St. Marys Buyer

My husband and I were very satisfied with the expertise and helpfulness of Mr. Fitzgerald. 4 stars

 

~ Carol Pingleton / St. Marys Seller

I wanted to commend Fitzgerald Realty & Auctioneers for the great job that they have done, for the many years of selling Real Estate for me and my clients. I have always found you very responsive. “A successful transaction is never an accident it is the result of personal service and a sincere effort”. Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Rudolf A. Carrico Jr. Attorney at Law

 

~ Rudolf A. Carrico, Jr. / Charles County Seller

Awesome ! We are so happy with Billy & Fitzgerald Realty !

 

~ Misty Peed / St. Marys Buyer

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