PHASE 1:
GET THE HOUSE READY FOR LISTING
Sort your Stuff
Time to get rid of stuff you no longer need, want, or care about. Then consider thinning the
collection of 'nice to have' stuff. Homes show better without extra household contents
obscuring your space and distracting buyers.
Recycle: E-Waste Recycling Stations: Check your municipality
- Lyndonville: Drop off hours: 8am - 3pm Monday through Saturday
Located next to the Village DPW behind the Lyndonville Fire Station.
- Lockport: Residents may bring electronics to the Town Recycling Shed on
the last Saturday of each month, 9am to 1pm, March through November.
Donate: Clothing bins or sheds can be found at the carwash/gas station on Maple Ridge in
Medina, or the gas station in Wrights Corners. The Lockport Good Will on Transit Rd. will take the
items from your vehicle - just pull around back. Many churches have a shed for soft
items that you can drop off any time: The Hess Road Wesleyan Church in Newfane, The
Methodist church on Campbell & Bear Ridge in Pendleton, and Sanborn Faith Community
on Route 31.
Chemical Waste: You can't leave it behind, so watch out for community collections. They
have them every spring and fall. NIAGARA COUNTY DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL / SOLID WASTE
Trash it!: Just let it go! Don't let your accumulation of Stuff keep you from moving on
with your life plans.
Store it: This can be a costly option and if you work the options above, you can limit the
cost and even avoid this option. First, what goes in storage is the last to come into your
new living situation. If it goes first, you are not using it. If it goes in the new place last,
you didn't need it to function in your new surroundings either. Save storage for
heirlooms, items of value you're waiting to be able to own. Reserve storage space for items
you know you would have to buy again if you let them go now.
Repair & Refresh
Consult with you're agent. Some home maintenance items are a must to repair but you don't
want to invest in a renovation that will NOT get you a return in the sale. Putting in new
windows and a new bathroom will improve the home significantly but will it increase your
home's price tag? Maybe not. However, if you have a malfunction in any system, plumbing, electrical or heating, get it repaired. If you have a roof leak or an unfinished project, these
need to been completed. If your buyer can't get a mortgage because of a needed repair, then
no buyers can get a mortgage and your home value just went down significantly. Cash-only
sales are bargain sales. They are an option if you need to walk away but they should be
avoided when possible.
Fresh paint is helpful especially if you used trendy colors or its just been too long since the
walls have been painted. Neutral colors are soothing and allow home buyers to look at what's
possible - not what do they have to do first. Take out wall hooks, patch, sand, and paint
ceilings and walls. Even if you limit your 'freshen up' project to a room or two, fresh paint will
serve you well. Cracked or peeling paint on the exterior can be problematic depending on the type of loan the buyer can obtained. It's best to take care of paint before a sale.
Clean
We all have different comfort levels with regard to clean. When selling, you will do well if your
home is super clean, neat, and all surfaces are freshly vacuumed, recently washed, dusted,
and tidied up. You don't want to attract attention to messes, you want buyers to feel like they
could sit down and enjoy a meal, watch TV, or head down to the basement without peeling off a cobweb. If the carpet is beyond a good cleaning, you might want to consider replacing it
before you list. Closets will be opened too, so neat & tidy applies to closets too. BEWARE of
odors. If you have a pet as a member of your family, there might be odors associated with
your buddy. People don't mind their own pet's odor but they will be turned off by yours.
Clean, deodorize, replace litter, and resolve the odor.
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