How to Get Your Home Ready for Buyers? (1)

If you're not a first-time home buyer, the chances are you're also trying to sell your existing home.

You can increase the curb appeal of your house by taking care of the following easy maintenance items:

Replace your external light fixtures if they look old and dirty.

Replace your old mailbox if it's bent and needs a paint.

Clean your windows to a sparkling shine.

Power wash the deck, patio and external walls, if need be.

Remove old broken cars from your drive way.

Remove ALL old, broken and rusting appliances and objects from your front and back yard.

Remove oil stains from your walkway and driveway and pave them fresh, if you can.

Repaint the gutters, window sills, shutters and doors, if they need a new layer.

Replace any missing roof shingles.

Repair cracks in the chimney, walls, driveway, walkways.

Remove or cover all garbage cans.

Inside, make sure there's no clutter.

Remove all toys, old books and electronic gadgets, extra blankets and pillows, etc. to the attic or basement. Rooms with few objects look larger.

Oil all creaky hinges.

Repair all cracked doors and windows.

Vacuum and wash the carpet.

Make sure all the faucets are running and the toilet is flushing properly.

Clean the bathroom to a sparkle. Make sure there is no dirt ring in the bathtub and the sink is absolutely clean.

Wipe all the mirrors.

Remove toothbrushes, toothpaste tubes, and medication bottles.

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Ugur Akinci is the Editor of Your Home Buying Assistance Program of New Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts