Effectively Preparing a Home for Market, Part 3

How to Effectively Prepare a Home for Market

A Market-Ready Series, Part 3

 

In "How does the Home look from the Street?" you were instructed to begin taking a look, a serious, in-depth look, at the house you either currently have on the market or about to place on the market for sale and to ask a lot of questions about the house, with the key question being, "And, if you were looking for a house, would you buy this house in its present state?"

 

In "How does the Home look from the Front Door?" you were presented with more questions about how the home looked from the front door and Entry.  Now it's time to take a very serious, in-depth look at the rest of the home.

 

 

How does it look on the Inside the House?

How has this process been so far?  Are you beginning to see the importance of asking questions about how the house feels and looks?  From the potential buyer’s perspective how a house feels to them for the first time is just as important as how it looks.  Every aspect of a house is seen and felt, whether you realize it or not.  That door that creaks, that hole in the wall, the lights that don’t work, and so many other things about a house present a challenge, an obstacle, to buyers.  In order to keep the potential buyer’s attention, we cannot stop on the curb or at the front door.  It is time to keep going.  You have to keep taking that in-depth look at the rest of the house.

 

Continue from the front door/Entry and go through every room and space in the house, including basements, garages, attics, and yards.  We’ve provided some questions for you on some specific areas and some general questions for every room.

General Questions for every room or space:

• What do you notice when you first walk into the room?  
• How does the space feel with the current furniture arrangement?   How does it look?  (The furniture arrangement should give the impression that the space is large, allow for easy movement through the space, and also show a buyer how they can use the space effectively.)
• Is the furniture in disrepair?  Is the furniture clean?
• How does the flooring look?  What kind of flooring is it?  Notice if anything is worn, damaged, or outdated (old).
• Is there an area rug?  Does it make the room look bigger or smaller?  Does it create an inviting, intimate space?  (Area rugs are used to define a smaller space within a larger space, and they focus attention to an area or spot.)
• Are the walls damaged or need painting?  Is this an appealing color that works for this house?
• Look at the artwork on the walls; what direction is it pointing you?  (Everything is about lines and how they point or direct a buyer through the house.  We want to subconsciously guide the buyer through the house, so while you’re looking at the house, also take some time to look at what you have on your walls and how they point.)
• Glance around the room, how many family photos, awards, diplomas, or other things about the family do you notice?  (Too many things about a family cause a buyer to focus on who currently lives in the house, and not focus on the house.  Not enough things about a family and the house can appear cold and not lived in.)
• How is the lighting in this room?  Do the light bulbs all work?  Are the ceiling fans clean and working?  Are any light fixtures broken or missing parts?  Is there good natural light?
• What type of window treatments are there?  Are they damaged or not working properly?
• Are the windows and window screens clean?  Is there anything blocking the view out the windows?  (Sometimes there are overgrown plants outside, something inside, or they just might be too dirty to see out of.)
• What do you see when you look out the windows of this room?  (Take note of what you see; is it something positive or negative?)
• Are there any rotten or damaged trim in this room, like around the windows, doors, or baseboards? 
• What does the ceiling look like?  Are there any signs of a roof leak?
• What is behind or hanging on any door?  Is there anything preventing the door from fully opening?  Is there anything that clatters or makes a noise or movement when a door is opened?
• Are there electrical switch and outlet covers on all the switches and outlets, and are they cracked or damaged?  Do they match in color and style, and if not, why?  (Don’t forget to look behind the furniture.)  Is it easy to access the light switches as you walk into the room?
• How does the room smell?  Do you notice any odors, such as animals or what you cooked last night?
• Are there toys scattered about?
• Are there signs of a pet in this room, such as food/water bowls, crates/kennels, toys, or litter boxes?

 

Living Room/Den/Family Room

• Is there a fireplace, can it be seen or does the furniture point you away from it? (In other words, is the focus on the big TV or the fireplace?)
• Where is the television?  Is it the first thing you see when walking into the room?  (The TV should never be the first thing buyers see when they enter a room, unless that room is the Media Room.)
• Does the current furniture arrangement show the best use of the space, features of the room and how a buyer can use this space; or does it show how you currently live in the space?
• Look at the coffee table, shelves, and other tables in the room.  How much stuff is on them?  Are they clean?

 

Dining Room

• Is this one of the first rooms you see from the front door?  (If so, you'll want to pay special attention to this room later.)
• Is there plenty of room to easily walk around the table?
• What is on the Dining room table?
• How much and what types of furniture are in the room?  (Table, Chairs, Sideboard, Hutch are all good, but the computer desk?)
• How much stuff is there in the china cabinet or on the buffet table?
• Are there any broken chairs or other furniture?  Does the table look good?

 

Kitchen

• What is on the counter tops?  Which items do you use daily?
• Are the appliances clean?  Is the Vent hood clean inside?  Is the refrigerator organized or clean inside, and what is on top of it?  Don’t forget to look inside the stove and microwave, are they clean?
• Is there a Pantry?  Open the door, how does it look?  Can you see the floor inside the Pantry?  Are the shelves overflowing and/or disorganized with stuff?
• Where is the garbage can?
• Take a moment and begin opening cabinets.  Are there any doors that stick, are broken, have missing drawer pulls or cabinet knobs, or have other issues?  Do you notice the space inside the cabinets or all the stuff?  Take a special look under the sink; is there water damage, can you see the plumbing or too much stuff?
• Now step back a moment and look at the kitchen overall.  Is there anything outdated?  Anything you have been meaning to repair or update and just haven’t yet?

 

Bedrooms

• Where is the bed?  Is it seen from the door?  What is on the bed?
• What is on the bedside table(s), what is on the dresser(s)?
• How many family photos, awards, or other things are in the room?  (It's OK to have some family photos, but not too many, as with none the home will appear lifeless and empty.)
• Can you see a connecting bathroom?  Can you easily walk to that bathroom door?
• Can you comfortably and easily walk to the closet?
• Now open the closet.  Can you see the whole floor of the closet?  Is there anything hanging over any shelves?  Are there too many clothes?  Where and how many shoes are there?  Is it neat in appearance or in a state of chaos?
• Is there a TV or Computer in the Bedroom?  (If so, when you set it up for showings, they do not belong in the bedrooms.)

 

Bathrooms

• How many bath rugs are there?  Why are they there?  (Remember area rugs focus attention.)
• How do the cabinets look?  Is there anything that needs repair?
• Are there broken towel rods, hooks, or mirrors?
• Is the sink clean, including the caulking around the sink?
• Now look at the bathtub and/or shower.  How does the caulking look?  Is the glass clean?  Is there build-up around any portion of the bathtub/shower enclosure?
• Is there ventilation in the room?  What kind of noise does it make?
• What is on the toilet?  Is the toilet clean?  Does it work properly?  Are there seat and tank covers on the toilet?  
• Is there anything outdated (old) and doesn't look good?

 

Hallways

• Can you easily walk through the hallway with your arms bent at the elbows and hands on your hips?
• What is hanging on the walls?  (Important because you do not want to distract buyers as they are walking down a hallway with too much art and photos.)
• As you begin to walk down the hallway, stop for a minute and look, what is the first room you notice when you first look down the hallway?  (Keep that room in mind, as it will be the key room later.)

 

Laundry Room

• What is on top of the washer and dryer and are they clean?
• Look behind your washer/dryer.  What do you see?  Is it clean?
• Are there clothes hung or put every where?
• How many clothes baskets are there, where are they?
• What is on the shelves?  Is anything hanging over the shelves?  Is there too much stuff on the shelves?
• Is there a sink?  Is it clean?  Does it work properly?
• Take a short walk outside for a moment to where the dryer vents.  What do you see?  Is there lint?  Is the vent working properly or is it clogged up?

 

Garage

Before you go into the garage, stop for a moment at the door, close your eyes, and breathe.  Now open the door.  What do you see first?

• Can you easily walk through the door and into the garage with your arms bent at the elbow and hands on your hips?
• How many parking spaces are there?  Can a car park in each space?
• Do the garage doors and openers operate correctly?
• Are the washer and dryer located in here?
• How much stuff is stored in the garage?  Where is it stored?  How often do you use each item?
• Is the floor clean?
• Is there an exterior door?  Where does it lead?  What is outside the door?

Keep asking the questions, as when you begin asking questions about the home you desire to sell then you're more likely to discover the buyer objections.

 

 

Stay tuned for Question 4:  

How does it look in the Back Yard?

 

Upcoming articles include:

After the Questions, Removing Objections

 

Previous articles:

"The Objective, "It's Not 'Your' House!"

How does the Home look from the Street?

How does the Home look from the Front Door?

 

 

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