You can sell your home yourself

We have talked in a previous article about the most important part of selling any property.  That is the price.

The second most important thing is getting the property in show shape.  This requires that you take a very objective look at your home.  Better yet, invite a trusted friend over, arm yourself with pad and pencil and begin to look from the street.  Are any limbs in the way of your view?  Do you see pleasant, clean lines, glistening windows, and brightly colored plants peeking out of well kept flower beds?  If this was the first time you had seen this house, would you want to go inside?  Write down anything you see that is less than picture perfect, and make plans to fix it.

Repainting trim, and using a power washer, especially on porches and around front doors, will help to make a good first impression on potential buyers.  Flaking paint anywhere should be addressed and freshened.  Neutral colors are a safe bet as a general rule.  The plan should be to make the front of the house look well cared for and friendly.

Once you get inside your front door, look again for anything that looks faded, discolored, smudged or extra.  Clutter tends to diminish the size of your rooms.  Since you are planning to move anyway, this is a great time to begin to pack.  Anything you consider personal, or precious should be put into a box, labeled for future reference, and put out of sight.

Look all around.  Look in corners, up and down.  Banish the dust bunnies, polish the paneling, clean the chandeliers, and discard the extras in your décor.  The objective as you go from room to room, is to look at the space through the eyes of a prospective buyer.  They are coming to look at the house, not your furnishings.  You want people to be able to visualize their things in your rooms.    

Now get really critical and look carefully at your flooring and wallpapers.  Do they reflect the tastes of today, or are they remnants of the past?  Remember that you  only get one chance to make a good first impression.  A little money invested in new floor coverings may make a lot of difference in the amount of time your home is on the market.  It will also influence the kind of offers you get.  At the very least, be sure that everything is clean and stain free.

Kitchens and bathrooms are areas that frequently help sell houses.  Be sure that your countertops are clear and all the sinks and faucets are gleaming.  Curtains should be open if possible to show off the view and to create light.  Everyone prefers to have things light and bright.  Arrange the things in the pantries and closets to appear orderly and to show off the space.  Color co-ordinate the towels and accessories to show off the tile or wallpapers.

 Extra time spent on this will pay off in greater results.  Just as you would take your car to get it detailed before you took it to the dealer to trade it in, getting your house in show shape is an important part of positioning it on the market.  We will discuss that phase in another upcoming blog.  If you have specific questions in the mean time please feel free to call us.