 For the past few months, maintenance and remodeling have consumed my household, all in preparation to put a for sale sign out front. It began with ripping out the 60s-style bathroom: Out went the dated fixtures, the gaudy gold-and-orange tiles and the sliding glass door crusted onto the bathtub. In came a shiny marble-ish sink, a new loo, flagstone and a sparkling tub (sans doors).
The kitchen entered a new millennium with fresh paint and handles on the cabinets, and every room lost the fingerprint-and-scuff look in favor of crisp-linen wall paint. We also carted off one-third of our belongings to self-storage (yes!) to give all rooms an open, airy feel. And that was just the inside. Outside, painted shutters, doors and trim were complemented by colorful planters and a row of annuals. Last but not least, we are finally replacing the back door to the garagethe one the bear bashed in while hunting for garbage. The result? Our house shines. It looks good in the marketing materials, and people have been calling for appointments. Before the house hit the MLS, I walked around every square foot, checking windows, doors, floors, walls ... you name it, trying to take buyers perspectives. If they liked what they saw, I figured, it would render a sale. The same holds true for your storage facility. When was the last time you strolled through your property and inspected flooring, baseboards, hallways, doorways and rooftops? Are there scuff marks, un-sprung doors or leaking roofs? What about your office and retail space? Is the carpet musty, the floors scratched, the sofa sunk? Do your signs say 70s? Is landscaping non-existent? All of the above sends a not-so-subtle message of Do Not Enter to potential tenants. Is that the look youre after? If not, its high time to make maintenance and remodeling a priority at your site. Inside this issue, youll find tips for beautifying just about every nook and cranny of your facility. If youve let your property go for awhile, be ready to roll up your sleeves and open your wallet. It will take sweat equity and cold cash to bring your site up to snuff, but the results are worth it. Youll save on utility bills, and youll also be able to charge top dollar for rents. And since maintenance and marketing go hand in hand, your gleaming site will lure tenants in tenfold. The strategy seems to be working for my home: We signed a contract on an attractive offer today. Take the advice found in this issue and youll be blessed with many new contracts as well.
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