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The Trick To Selling Your Home
Make it look as clean and inviting as possible.
A potential buyer must be made to feel
eager to live here.
You only have one chance to make a good first impression.
You shouldn't spend a lot of money on fix-up
But you must be able to see your own house
as a buyer will see it
and correct any weaknesses that may turn off the
buyer right away.
Yard and Exterior
Paint:
Few things enhance the salability of a house quite
so much as painting the outside.
Front Entry:
Give special care to this area.
Again, you only have one chance to
make a good first impression.
Yard:
Mow and trim the lawn.
Weed flowerbeds and remove all dead plants or trees.
Remove empty flowerpots, kids toys and bicycles, etc.
Don't forget about the backyard! Everything counts when it comes to impressing potential buyers. Spruce up your patio and brighten up the entire area with colorful annuals.
Basics Around the House
Walls:
Patch all major holes, repaint if time.
Make sure wallpaper is clean and adheres smoothly
to the wall.
Wash off fingerprints and smudges.
Floors:
Repair or replace tile where necessary.
Steam-clean carpets, and make sure all spots are removed.
If pet odors were a problem, have carpets cleaned some time before house goes on the market
A Spacious Look
Open Up:
One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the showability of your home is to open up as much as possible.
Openness stimulates positive feelings in buyers.
Don't change what you have in furniture, but you can
arrange it in a way that gives a feeling of space.
Put some things in another room if need be.
Remove all but a very few of personal mementos,
photos, knickknacks. Pay special attention to the kitchen and baths. These rooms are the clinchers when it comes to the buyer feeling confident that the house has been well maintained.
Counters/Cabinets:
Overcrowding gives the feeling of inadequate space.
Store appliances. Do some prudent discarding in cabinets.
Closets/Garage/Attic:
Clean out all closets and other storage areas.
If you absolutely cannot part with the contents,
consider putting it in storage.
Clean and orderly storage spaces will help give the impression that the home is extra well-kept.
Besides, weeding out some stuff now will leave you that much further ahead when it comes time to move.
Homey Smells
The scent of fresh baked goods is always inviting,
but refrain from doing any heavy cooking before a showing.
Go easy on the potpourri and air fresheners;
they may make appear you have odors to cover up.
Tips for Showing
Light:
Open all draperies unless there is an objectionable view.
Turn on lights in most rooms.
Pets:
Get them out of the house during showing,
if at all possible.
Presence:
Most buyers will not relax or closely inspect a house
if the owner is present.
Try to arrange to turn the house over to the salesperson.
If you are at home, refrain from talking
unless some specific questions are asked.
Trust the salesperson's professional judgment.
One Final Note
If there is a major problem with the house,
don't mask it.
If you don't intend to repair or correct it,
be candid about it.
Most buyers will be philosophical about a
problem openly displayed.
Usually they will discount the price they offer
by far less than the cost of the repair.
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