Spice Up Your Recipe for Selling By Lee Ann Wilkinson, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties Services | Aug 12, 2014 Zucchini bread is delicious, but everyone needs to turn to a new recipe every once in awhile! More Zucchini Bread?... We are in the height of farmers’ market season here in Southern Delaware, which is a perfect time to break out recipes for tomatoes, zucchini, peaches, corn…the list goes on! While a delicious tomato salad or loaf of zucchini bread never gets old, it’s natural to turn to new recipes to shake things up and keep interest. If you are selling your home, you may want to consider this strategy for your own property. But how can you keep your listing fresh for the picking? Turning again to a cooking analogy, take a look at presentation: the first impression. Here are a few tips: Price: The ultimate “first impression.” Make sure your house is priced accordingly (competitively and attractively) if you want to sell quickly. Presentation: Why do we put off doing those little things for ourselves while we are living in a home – until it’s time for someone else to enjoy it? It’s common, but NOW is definitely the time to do these projects. People form first impressions on sensory information, not necessarily on ‘what could be.’ Sight Try to look at your home with fresh eyes, or ask your REALTOR to make recommendations based on her or his first impression. These tips may seem obvious – and it may seem that buyer should be able to envision everything clean – but it’s a lot easier to envision when it actually IS clean! Eliminate clutter and paperwork. The fine Lladro figurines may be beautiful, but they are also precious, breakable and set a certain style. Take time to put them away carefully and set a neutral stage for your prospective buyer. Freshen your paint, and wipe down ceiling fans, walls, handrails, baseboards, and light switches (even swap out dated light switches for more modern ones with dimmers). Inspect all of your sinks, faucets, and toilets for drips and leaks. Seal leaky faucets, replace washers, and caulk where necessary. Don’t neglect the outside. With all the rain we have had lately, make sure your gutters are cleaned out and check your basement for any water leakage or mildew. Clip your flowers and gardens to keep them looking great, too. Smell In addition to the visual presentation, try walking into your house with a fresh nose. Do you smell your pets or smoky furniture? Has your home been closed up with A/C – or do you need a fresh filter? The old ‘baking cookies for the open house’ strategy works for a reason! You can, however, have too much of a good thing. Try to go for neutral versus too much potpourri or heavy scents. People love a fresh, new smell. Recipe for Success Unlike baking, home selling is not an exact science. These tips are based on more than 30 years of home-selling experience, and are by no means all-inclusive!
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 22:10:18 +0000
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