GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO SELL
Outside
Make a good first impression, whether buyers are driving by or finding you on the internet or on the MLS listing. Whatever impression you make will be a lasting one and may determine if the potential buyer will want to come inside and investigate further the possibility of buying your house.
Curb Appeal -When a buyer gets a list of homes for sale from their agent or online and drives by to take a look, with one quick glance the buyer decides if he wants to go inside to consider your house. The inside of a home can be excellent, but if the outside is not inviting they will not come though the door to see it.
Þ Maintain your yard – powerful way to let buyers know that you take care of your home.
o Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof, or driveway.
o Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools.
o Clean windows and gutters.
o Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.
o Mow the lawn. Get rid of weeds.
o Rake and dispose of leaves
o Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home's roof.
Inside
When you step inside, what do you see, feel, smell?
Is it welcoming? Are the windows dirty? Is there an old light fixture that makes a room look dated?
Basic Repairs -The first step to selling your home is the basic repairs. All the little things in the house that bother you will definitely bother the potential buyers coming through your house. The drippy faucet, the paint peeling on the ceiling, that old carpet in the back room, you know what needs to be done. Hire a handy man and put him to work for a couple of days on your house.
Big impact items for small price
Þ Paint the front door and trim. It will add appeal to the front appearance of your house
Þ Add outside fixtures like a new mailbox, new house numbers, lights, new door knob or door bell. A nice potted plant to give your home a welcoming feeling
Þ Rent a power washer – Clean the house, drive, sidewalk, patio and deck. This can make old look new again
Þ Wash walls and windows – Clean windows make a fresher look both outside and in
Þ Paint one or more walls in a room – adding a warm shade of color can change the feel of a room
Þ Update hardware on kitchen cabinet doors – get rid of unsightly or broken and dated hardware and you freshen the entire kitchen
Þ If needed, repaint your cupboard doors a neutral color
Þ Replace molding in a room – makes the room look crisp
Þ Replace dated light fixtures – this can be very inexpensive, using the same wiring as the old fixture
Þ Replace tired or corroded faucets – this helps give the impression that you are keeping up with the plumbing in the home
Þ Replace light switches and outlets – this gives the impression that new electrical wiring has been installed
If you have big ticket items that you know will need to be done on the house, get your estimates in advance, even if you do not plan to do the work. A roof or carpet are good examples of this. If you have those estimates available, it will help the buyer determine if they can afford the home and will come in handy when negotiations begin.
STAGING YOUR HOME
Staging is a very important step of this process. Every room must have a specific purpose.
Bedrooms are for sleeping. Dining rooms are for eating. Family rooms and living rooms are for relaxing or entertaining.
General Staging Tips
- Make Space Leave in the rooms only the necessities that make each room look big. Extra furniture can be taken out and stored. Make sure the space is open and easy to move around in.
- De-Clutter – Pre-pack for your move. Pack up all the things you won’t be needing immediately. This is a good time to pack up the silver and china. Don’t forget closets, cupboards and drawers. Potential buyers will open everything. Appliances included! So make sure everything is clean, clutter-free and organized!
- Make it shine! Spic and Span is what you need. It’s free and it makes the home look well cared for in the process.
- No Smells… make the buyer run away FAST! Pet odor, musty smells, smoke odor has to go.
- Neutral - Make sure that you have neutral colors on your walls. Neutral doesn’t mean white, there are many shades of beige or sand that warm up the space and add light and life to the room.
- Light - I can’t tell you what an important roll light plays in a room. Clean the windows, open the curtains and make sure you have at least 2 or 3 sources of light in each room. You will be turning them all on before each showing!
- Flow and placement of items is very important. The buyer should be able to easily scan the room. Furniture and artwork should be of the right scale for the room and walls. Remember to keep only the things that are necessary and store the rest.
- Make sure that your pets are removed or restrained for showings.
- De-Personalize! The fewer things you that make it “your” home the better. Family pictures, knick knacks, collectibles, should be boxed up and moved. Allow the buyer to easily give the home the needed personality in his mind.
- Do you have a focal point. Arrange furniture around the fireplace, picture window or lovely woodwork.
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