Top 10 Cheap or Free Tips to Prepare Your house for Prospective Buyers. 1. Clean, clean, clean and then clean some more. Sweep, mop, vacuum the floors like your Cinderella. Wipe down walls, counters, cabinets, knobs, pulls. Make sure all the laundry is put away. Pick up the kids toys. Make the beds. Scrub all sinks, toilets, tubs, and showers. Degrease kitchen appliances, cabinets, microwaves, and countertops. Bleach that dingy grout. Dust ceiling fans, tvs, computers, table tops and bottoms. Wipe down doors, windowsills, baseboards, and trim. Clean windows and mirrors inside and out. Remove old food from the refrigerator and freezers. Polish faucets. Hang fresh towels. Clean out drains. Remove cobwebs, dead bugs, and rodent droppings. 2. Deodorize and refresh your home. Smells make the home. The most popular smell is fresh baked cookies and bread. A crock-pot simmering in the kitchen with a delicious stew is also great. Burning scented candles are a great way to deodorize the air. (Never leave a lit candle unattended). Plug-ins, spray fresheners used in moderation will lighten the air, furniture, and carpet. A dab of vanilla oil on a light bulb can spread a nice scent into the air. Cinnamon, Lavender, and vanilla are the most popular scents. Laundry sheets behind an air filter will spread a clean fresh scent throughout the room. Open windows and doors and turn on ceiling fans. You want your house to smell clean and fresh to attract optimal buyers. 3. De-clutter your space. Pack up your collectibles, tchotchkes, knick -knacks, and other items taking up space. Paring down items in the closets and cabinets to only the essentials will make the spaces appear bigger. Neatly organize plates, cups, cleaners, clothes, towels, sheets, etc. Pack up your books and magazine. Keep only the ones you are currently reading. Remove as many of your health and hygiene items as possible. Keep only what you need on a frequent basis and organize them out of sight if possible. Less is always more. 4. De-Personalize your home. Pack up all the things that make your home “your home”. Items like family photos, heirlooms, artwork, kitschy items, souvenirs, religious décor, children’s schoolwork, crafts, all make it difficult for potential buyers to see themselves in the property. 5. Lighten up! Open the shades, curtains and turn on the lights. Using larger wattage light bulbs will make dark rooms appear brighter. Make sure all the light bulbs in the house are in working order. 6. Keep up the curb appeal. Lots of buyers like to do “drive-bys” of a home before calling their realtor. Make sure you keep your lawn mowed and the bushes trimmed as frequently as possible. Remove weeds and dead flowers from flowerbeds. Rake the leaves. Freshen mulch, plant new flowers or add a couple of potted plants on the porch. Some studies suggest yellow flowers put people in a buying mood. Pick up toys and other non-essential items. Clean off sidewalks and driveways. Keep yard watered and well maintained. Make sure your house number is easily readable. Don’t forget the backyard too. Put away all gardening tools and machines. Remove pet cemetery markers, hide composting heaps, and remove sports and games paraphernalia. Clean patio furniture. 7. Critter control. While your sweet Fluffy or rambunctious Spot is a part of your family, they aren’t a part of the prospective buyer’s family. If at all possible, crate your pet for showings. Keep the house thoroughly vacuumed. Some buyers may have allergies and the last thing you want is them fleeing your home in a fit of sneezing and runny eyes. Make sure the litter box is fresh and hidden for every showing. Clean out birdcages and aquariums. Cover reptile habitats with a sheet. Pick up the puppy poop out of the yard. Store away pet food and water dishes. Do a “whiff” test. Have a neighbor or friend come over and smell for pets. Most pet stores have odor eliminators for under $20.00. Store away pet toys and furniture. De-doggy nose windows and glass doors. Nose smudges on the glass are a dead give-away that pets inhabit the home. Repair or cover any scratches or claw marks on furniture, walls, and doors. 8. Keep it Quiet. Turn off the tv and put on some neutral light music. The last thing a buyer wants to hear while walking through your home is the blood curdling screams from a horror movie blaring on your television. Popular music choices include classical, light jazz, and ambient music. 9. Create a flow. Arrange your furniture so that buyers can walk easily and comfortable through the room and into adjacent rooms. Eliminate oversized furniture that makes the room difficult to navigate or appear smaller. 10. Make minor repairs. It’s entirely up to you on how much you are comfortable investing in your home when you put it on the market. However, a few small repairs and cosmetic fix ups can go a long way for buyers. Painting, caulking sinks and tubs, fixing broken doorknobs, fixing a leaking faucet, replacing broken glass panes, and other minor repairs can make the difference for a buyer looking for a turnkey property or one that will accept a few minor flaws.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 23:00:01 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015