Preparing Your Home For Sale With a little effort on your part, your home can be sold more quickly and at a better price. The following tips have proved invaluable to owners and are worth your special attention: Preparation For Showing: Drive Up Appeal 1.First impressions are lasting! The front door greets the prospect. Make sure it is fresh, clean, and paint the trim. 2.Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Reseed the lawn and fertilize if necessary, weed the gardens, and add mulch. Deep green grass makes a lasting impression. In winter, be sure snow and ice is removed from walks and steps. Absolute Basics • Start by airing out the home. Most people are turned off by even the smallest odor. Odors must be eliminated, especially dogs, cats, young children in diapers or if there are smokers in the home. •Wash all windows in the home, inside and out. Are the windows and screens in good condition? •If it has been over a year since the carpets have been cleaned, now is the time to do it. Bare floors should also be waxed and polished. • Put bright light bulbs in every socket made for a bulb. Buyers like bright & cheery. • Clean out closets, cabinets, and drawers. Closet should look as they have enough room to hold additional items. Get everything off the floor and don’t have the shelves piled to the ceiling. • Make sure there is not too much furniture in a room. Select pieces that look best, and store the rest. • Keep the kitchen sparkling clean. Make sure all appliances are clean at all times. Straighten cupboards that appear cluttered inside and keep floors gleaming. • Bathtubs, showers and sinks should be freshly caulked. The grout should be clean and in good condition. There should be no leaks in the faucets or traps. • Repairs can make a big difference. Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor flaws detract from home value. Have them fixed. A Few More Suggestions • If you have limited counter space in the kitchen, keep unnecessary items put away. • Keep children’s toys out of the front yard, sidewalks and front porch. • Recognize the differences between decorator touches and clutter. • Clean the ashes out of the fireplace. • Make sure the pull-down staircase is working correctly. Be sure there is a light in the attic. • The pool needs to be sparkling and free of leaves. For Those Willing to Go the Extra Mile •If your home is the least bit dated, changing out wallpaper in the entry, kitchen or bathrooms and replacing outdated light fixtures will make a huge difference. • Fresh, neutral paint on interior/exterior where needed. • New appliances in the kitchen can be an exciting feature that can actually make the difference in a buyer choosing your home over another. SHOWING THE HOME When you leave the house in the morning or during the day, leave it as if you know it is going to be shown! 1. Keep good scents in the house, such as potpourri, candles or air freshener plug-ins. 2. Make sure all the lights are on and window treatments are open. 3. Turn off the television. Leave soft music playing. 4. Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way--preferably out of the house. 5.Leave your premises. Take a short break while your home is being shown. Buyers are intimidated when sellers are present and tend to hurry through the house. Let the buyer be at ease, and let the agents do their job. 6. Let your Realtor discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the prospective buyer. They are eminently qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion. 7.We ask that you show your home to prospective customers only by appointment through this office. Your cooperation will be appreciated and will help us close the sale more quickly.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 00:16:05 +0000
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