It’s hard to believe that spring is just around the corner, which means the busy spring real estate market is soon to follow. While it may not feel like spring quite yet, getting your Chicago North Shore home ready to sell now means you’ll have a jump start on the competition.
Our team of trusted real estate advisors and Prudential Rubloff real estate agents on Chicago’s North Shore have years of experience in dealing with both buyers and sellers along the Lake Michigan shoreline, and we want to make sure you’re fully prepared to jump into the real estate market this spring! While it can take some extra work, the busy spring market can be the best time to get your North Shore home sold.
If you are planning on selling, you’ll want to be sure to take care of a few things before you even put your home on the North Shore Real Estate market. Ensuring your home is in top condition could be just the thing to make it stand out from the countless other homes vying for buyers’ attention. Take a few minutes to review these ten tips for getting your home ready to sell!
1. Examine your Front Door: North Shore winters, as well as wear and tear from use, can leave front doors looking dingy and weak. Replacing doors with a more energy efficient door looks great and saves money on heating and air. Don’t want to spend a lot? A simple paint job will give your old door an updated and refreshed look.
2. Clean Gutters: Gutters are a breeding ground for insects, mold, mildew and algae spores that can enter your attic and allow biological growths to enter your North Shore home. Scoop out debris and run water down the gutter with a hose. Invest in a gutter cap or screen. Scrub out the inside with a gutter brush.
3. Check the Foundation: Inspect the foundation of your North Shore home for large cracks and shifts in the blocks. Seal large cracks and gaps between the foundation and concrete/earth and directly on the concrete.
4. De-Clutter: It’s easy to collect things in your home during the winter months, but spring is all about having a fresh start! Take time to evaluate the things you really need to keep and those things that you can part with. Then, establish an organization system. Hardware stores offer a range of affordable shelving solutions.
5. Check the Basement: Scan everything in the basement of your North Shore home. Check the water and sewer pipes for leaks, mold and tearing and pests. Address problems immediately either with a water vacuum, dehumidifier or new gutter drains. Drain sediment from hot water heaters and change your furnace filter.
6. Clean the Deck: Warm weather in the North Shore area means spending a lot of time outdoors on your home’s deck or patio! You want this area of your home to really shine and reflect how you care for your home. Remove grime, pollen, fungus and mildew by scrubbing the surface with a deck or patio cleanser. Of course you’ll also want to brush off your outdoor furniture and create the living space that you’ll enjoy for months to come!
7. Get Rid of Mold: Examine your ceilings, attic, walls and bathrooms. If you do notice mold, you must identify the source of the mold before repainting. Ask a local contractor for help. When you are ready to repaint, use mold growth inhibitor paint made for high moisture areas.
8. Exterior Paint: Carefully scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You'll protect wood against summer's heat and moisture and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
9. Reseal: Caulk and other sealants safeguard your home against rain and snow at vulnerable points such as cracks and open joints. Winter can rip caulk apart. Scrape out old caulk using a painter's five-in-one tool. Clean and disinfect with one-part liquid chlorine bleach in three parts warm water.
10. Add some green: The first thing guests notice when approaching your North Shore home is color, light and symmetry. When adding new shrubbery, keep it symmetrical. Change outdoor light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. It is amazing what some flowers, light and fresh paint can accomplish in your home on the North Shore!
2. Clean Gutters: Gutters are a breeding ground for insects, mold, mildew and algae spores that can enter your attic and allow biological growths to enter your North Shore home. Scoop out debris and run water down the gutter with a hose. Invest in a gutter cap or screen. Scrub out the inside with a gutter brush.
3. Check the Foundation: Inspect the foundation of your North Shore home for large cracks and shifts in the blocks. Seal large cracks and gaps between the foundation and concrete/earth and directly on the concrete.
4. De-Clutter: It’s easy to collect things in your home during the winter months, but spring is all about having a fresh start! Take time to evaluate the things you really need to keep and those things that you can part with. Then, establish an organization system. Hardware stores offer a range of affordable shelving solutions.
5. Check the Basement: Scan everything in the basement of your North Shore home. Check the water and sewer pipes for leaks, mold and tearing and pests. Address problems immediately either with a water vacuum, dehumidifier or new gutter drains. Drain sediment from hot water heaters and change your furnace filter.
6. Clean the Deck: Warm weather in the North Shore area means spending a lot of time outdoors on your home’s deck or patio! You want this area of your home to really shine and reflect how you care for your home. Remove grime, pollen, fungus and mildew by scrubbing the surface with a deck or patio cleanser. Of course you’ll also want to brush off your outdoor furniture and create the living space that you’ll enjoy for months to come!
7. Get Rid of Mold: Examine your ceilings, attic, walls and bathrooms. If you do notice mold, you must identify the source of the mold before repainting. Ask a local contractor for help. When you are ready to repaint, use mold growth inhibitor paint made for high moisture areas.
8. Exterior Paint: Carefully scrape, prime and paint peeling spots on trim or woodwork. You'll protect wood against summer's heat and moisture and prevent a more difficult paint job come fall.
9. Reseal: Caulk and other sealants safeguard your home against rain and snow at vulnerable points such as cracks and open joints. Winter can rip caulk apart. Scrape out old caulk using a painter's five-in-one tool. Clean and disinfect with one-part liquid chlorine bleach in three parts warm water.
10. Add some green: The first thing guests notice when approaching your North Shore home is color, light and symmetry. When adding new shrubbery, keep it symmetrical. Change outdoor light bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. It is amazing what some flowers, light and fresh paint can accomplish in your home on the North Shore!
Selling your North Shore home can seem overwhelming at first, but having a North Shore Real Estate agent by your side each step of the way and taking the time to prep your home for sale can bring about great results! While some of these tips may seem like minor things to do; they can pay off as buyers notice your meticulous attention to detail. They’ll feel that you’ve cared for your home well and that it’s move in ready!
If you have questions about selling your North Shore home this spring, or you’re ready to get started; we’d love to hear from you! Our clients are our top priority and we always strive for excellence in meeting their real estate needs.
We would enjoy the opportunity to work with you and get your North Shore home sold!
Shoreline Property Advisors
@ Prudential Rubloff
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