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READY TO PUT YOUR HOME ON THE MARKET? THINK AGAIN!

By
Real Estate Agent with Diane Turton, Realtors, Forked River, NJ

Red Door

Many sellers sometimes overlook certain aspects of the selling process that may facilitate their ability to sell.

By spending some time to prepare your home for the process, you can entice buyers to make offers and quickly sell your home.


The outside of the home is a perfect place to start; afterall, it's the first thing a prospective buyer sees.  Curb appeal is imperative in every market!

Clean exterior:  

  • Power washing the outside of the home for a fresh shine
  • Clean any rain gutters
  • Clean outside windows and screens


Landscaping:  

  • Freshen up the mulch
  • Plant some flowers
  • Trim the shrubery & trees


Update exterior:  

  • Sellers may even want to update their front door with a new coat of paint.   A suggestion I pass along is something I read in Carole Provenzale's / Feng Shui Blog, written by Laura Cerrano, about how a "Red Door" will protect you and your family from any negativity before entering the home.  My feeling is that, if you are going to update the color of your front door, you may as well take into consideration a Feng Shui Tip!
  • Change the exterior lighting fixtures could really brighten up the front of the home.
  • New house numbers are also a good idea, adding to the new, fresh look of the home's exterior, (just make sure those numbers are viewable from the curb).


Direct your attention Indoors:

  • When painting, use neutral colors whenever possible
  • Replacing Rugs?  again, neutral colors
  • Wallpaper - most stagers recommend either removing wallpaper all together, or if it's in good condition, painting over it. 


De-Clutter:  
"Less is MORE".  Rent a storage unit or ask a friend/family memeber to borrow some garage space.

  • Eliminating half of your belongings could help de-clutter the home.  
  • Make each room look extremely tidy (you are continuing your efforts to put your best foot forward)
  • Rearrange the furniture to make every room appear as large as possible 
  • Don't forget to organize items stored in closets -- buyers will definitely look there! 
  • Remove any posters or artwork that may be hanging.


Make Repairs:  

  • If you know of any, make the repairs now, to avoid headaches in the future
  • Buyers will see the home in good condition and they will positively respond to that


Remember; you need to make potential buyers see themselves living their new life in your home.



When selling your house, don't simply rush to market; PREPARE! By taking some time to prep your home, you will be able to capitalize on all of the advantages your property has to offer.


  


ToulaRosebrock.com

 

Toula N. Rosebrock (of Diane Turton, Realtors) – Broker / Sales Associate

Specializing in all of Ocean County - Lacey Township Real Estate, Forked River / Lanoka Harbor

Unique Name … Unique Agent … Unique Service!

Websites:

www.Toula.org

www.ToulaRosebrock.com

www.OceanCountyNJRealEstateSales.com

www.Toula.info

Waterfront Properties, Single Family Homes, Multi Family Homes, Condos, Townhomes, Adult Communities, Vacant Land, Commercial Properties, 1031 Exchanges

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Kristin Johnston - REALTORĀ®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Toula, GREAT tips...so often sellers miss these easy to do ideas before putting the home on the market.

Feb 23, 2011 02:10 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Toula, 

Excellent advice.  The buyers I've helped buy in the last few years have bought the best out there.  Best meaning best maintained, best CLEAN home, best value for the money. It's not always been the cheapest, but the home that has screamed someone has taken good care of me:-)

Just went to a caravan yesterday and was extremely dismayed that while the home APPEARED to be good, I opened a couple of drawers and cabinets in the kitchen and it was disgusting.... 

Folks - CLEAN and RECLEAN out everything in your kitchen.  This is the most important room in the house and will disgust potential buyers as well as reduce your price if it's not clean. 

All the best, Michelle

Feb 23, 2011 02:11 AM
Craig Rutman
Helping people in transition - Cary, NC
Raleigh, Cary, Apex area Realtor

Very informative and comprehensive list you've compiled here Toula. This should be required reading for anyone thinking of selling their home.

Feb 23, 2011 04:02 AM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

A home that is prepared and kept that way will sell quickly and at a better price.  Good information ma'am.

Feb 23, 2011 04:57 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

All great tips Toula!  Today's buyer wants a perfect home, they seem less and less willing to buy a house with a built in to-do list.  So often the little defered maintenance items we all live with in our own homes are the deterent to a buyer that assumes it will cost thousands to cure, when it may only be a few hundred even if you pay a handyman to take care of it.

Taking care of the little things before you list WILL get you top dollar and help your home sell quickly.

Feb 23, 2011 06:04 AM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

Great list Toula. Wish I could reblog it. All my sellers should review this.

Feb 23, 2011 07:06 AM
Connie Goodrich
Keller Williams Realty - McKinney, TX
CRS ABR (McKinney Realtor)Texas

Excellent preparation list.  The red door reminded me of a client who painted their door.  I had suggested that they match the trim to a lovely shade of green that complimented the yellow & beige tone to give it some lift.  They loved the idea.  When I came back to see how other improvements including the outside looked ... there it was ... a bright read cherry red hot pink tone door.  And boy did it stand out!!  I inquired as to this choice of color and the lady of the home said, I have been watching some home decorating shows and they suggested to make your home pop with a color, so we did .. what do you think?  Uh ... it does grab attention is all I could politely manage.  The home did sale quickly as they finished the rest as I had suggested but the buyer's agent asked me .. what is the story on the door?  Funny what things people do!  Nice post sweet friend! 

Feb 23, 2011 10:29 AM
Richard Iarossi
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Crofton, MD
Crofton MD Real Estate, Annapolis MD Real Estate

Toula,

Excellent! Many sellers don't realize how critically important that first impression really is.

Rich

Feb 23, 2011 01:12 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Toula

Thanks for sharing an excellent post and insight.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Feb 23, 2011 03:22 PM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Toula,  It drives me crazy when I show a house and the first thing we see (after the landscaping) is old, rusted door handles.  The buyers are waiting and the key barely turns in the lock.   Your advice is great.  If there is too much clutter, the house appears small.  Too much stuff, not enough closet space.  Great post!

Feb 24, 2011 02:33 AM
Charlie Ragonesi
AllMountainRealty.com - Big Canoe, GA
Homes - Big Canoe, Jasper, North Georgia Pros

Toula very very nice post. When we sold our home in Marieeta even thogh this is my business I asked a fellow realtor to go thru it and tell me if things needed to be done. So different eyes looking at things is also something I would ad to your list

Feb 24, 2011 05:22 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Hi Toula, good advice all around! I listed a home a few years ago that was super clean.  The sellers had removed almost everything--- there was not one stick of artwork on any of their white walls.  I worried that it look too stark and not very welcoming but that house sold in 3 days. Sellers in doubt can always ask their agent for advice or hire a home stager too.

Feb 24, 2011 01:34 PM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

A must read for home sellers...if they're serious sellers this advice will be taken and implemented!

Feb 24, 2011 10:05 PM
Toni Weidman
Sailwinds Realty - Trinity, FL
20+ Years Selling Homes in New Port Richey, FL

I love red front doors, Toula. They just seem to say home and happiness. Have a great day.

Feb 25, 2011 12:00 AM
Robert Rauf
CMG Home Loans - Toms River, NJ

Toula, do you have a Handy Man you recommend for your clients?  do you think we could get them to join OCBR?  I think it would be great to have them as a resource for our agents.

Feb 25, 2011 05:23 AM
Emily Medvec
eXp Realty LLC - Santa Fe, NM
Broker | Realtor | Serving Santa Fe & Northern NM

Toula, the front door is often the key to the sale. I find the only way to get sellers to appreciate "curb appeal" is to give them a front door tour of competitive properties. It works better than having them look at homes online. Thanks for the tips.

Feb 26, 2011 10:03 AM
Susan Neal
RE/MAX Gold, Fair Oaks - Fair Oaks, CA
Fair Oaks CA & Sacramento Area Real Estate Broker

Hi Toula - Excellent post with wonderful advice for any seller!

Feb 26, 2011 03:55 PM