The following blog post was originally posted on www.millierosenbloom.com by one of our River North Design District (RNDD) Members, and a realtor with Baird & Warner, Millie Rosenbloom. If you are thinking of listing your home in the near future, Millie has compiled her list of no-fail home maintenance tips to tackle before you list.
Millie Rosenbloom’s No-Fail Pre-List Checklist
When listing a home, there is one simple truth that I never stray from, not matter the situation: I never list a home until it is ready. Why? For a few reasons. First, there are so many other homes out there that hit the market without addressing the small stuff, so I know mine will automatically stand out from the pack. And, buyers notice everything! The mind wanders when they spot a small issue: “what else is lurking?” they wonder.
Lucky for you, I’ve compiled my check list of pre-list to-do’s that you may or many not have already considered. These are the items that I believe truly make the difference between a house that sparks and one that may fall flat–they make that big of a difference!
- Things to power wash:
- Garage floor
- The algae off the front facade, steps, and deck
- Things to paint:
- Garage floor: I always use Benjamin Moore Battleship Gray
- The inside of fireplaces: paint them black for a clean, fresh look
- Fence/front gate: spray paint shiny black
- Things to clean:
- Windows
- Exterior dryer vents
- Change filters and humidifier pads before inspection
- Checking windows for broken seals and fix as necessary: they always catch this during inspections
- Landscaping:
- Spruce up as necessary, clear away debris
- Add a few colorful flowers to planters
- Trim trees/bushes that may be covering windows
About Millie Rosenbloom: Millie is a broker at Baird & Warner, where she has been number one in sales out of over 2,200 brokers for the past 10 years. She was inducted in the Chicago Association of Realtor’s Hall of Fame in 2014, and is routinely quoted and featured in multiple media publications and broadcasts, including CNN and The Wall Street Journal. Actively involved in the Chicago non-profit community, Millie is a committee co-chair of the Brain Research Foundation and the Magnificent Mile Association.