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www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 PAINT A fresh coat of color can completely transform the look of any home, but not just any colors will do. "Homes on the market with neutral palates like greige, ivory or simple light grays tend to sell faster," says Keddie. Online lis ngs include several photos and o en provide virtual tours. Just because your favorite shade of teal looks great in person doesn't mean it'll impress online buyers, which is usually where a they get their fi rst look inside a house. "Color scheme is important," says Clark. "It can off er a great fl ow throughout the showing and for photos." If your home is already neutral and the paint is somewhat recent, then just a thorough touch-up job should suffi ce. REPAIRS Inves ng in big remodeling jobs for cosme c purposes isn't suggested but tak- ing care of broken items of a prac cal nature is a top priority. Even the most laid- back buyers want a home that is fully func onal and safe at the me of move-in. "The most important repairs prior to any lis ng should be addressing plumbing, water damage to the interior, electrical that could be a fi re hazard, leaking roofs, and also hea ng and cooling," says Clark. Even minor issues can give the impression of neglect and that larger problems might exist, so it's important not to overlook seemingly small repairs. Keddie says to "make sure toilets and faucets are working and not leaking, loose handrails are stabilized, broken windows and doors are fi xed, repair any damaged fl ooring, and caulking and grout in the bathrooms." AS-IS Not everyone has the interest or resources to undergo an elaborate prepara on process. For those who wish to keep it simple, Keddie suggests some li le things that make a big diff erence. "If the seller is pressed on me and money is ght, simply being sure that the exterior is spruced up, home is cleaned, declu ered, and staged nicely can go a long way in the eyes of a buyer," she says. "Ad- di onally, if the seller is off ering a one-year home warranty with the sale of a home, it can ease the mind of the buyer and is not a large cost to the seller at se lement." If you'd like more informa on on selling or buying a home, contact one of our local experts. hope starts here. 540.373.3223 WWW.RAPPAHANNOCKAREACSB.ORG WORKING AT THE INTERSECTION OF HOPE AND HELP. RAPPAHANNOCK AREA COMMUNITY SERVICES BOARD FREDERICKSBURG & RICHMOND ▪ 800.247.2888 ▪ CHSVA.ORG Children's Home Society understands that adoption is a lifelong process. For ten years we have provided free personalized support—from coaching to advocacy to respite—to over 1800 parents and children. CHS is pleased to be a part of the Northern Post Adoption Consortium which provides post adoption services virtually to families in the Fredericksburg region. GIVE A CHILD HOPE To learn more, contact CHS Post Adoption Social Worker Anna Yates at 540.226.0583 or visit chsva.org/post-adoption-program CHS Post Adoption Program funding provided in part by a Community Impact Grant from Rappahannock United Way Part 1 of a two part series. April features home building.