Your house is for sale and you leave for work each morning.  What should you be asking yourself before you leave for the day?  

Why do so many people hate cats and dogs?  Well they don’t but they do hate smells, dander and hair.  Change the cat litter, vacuum the hair.   Maybe send the pets on a vacation.  Every realtor and every house shopper has experienced the unbelievable stench of cat litter left unattended; don’t let that be at your house.    Oops.  You have a dog but have never bothered to vacuum up the hair.  Yuck!

What is so hard about making the bed?   Make it.  Pull up the duvet.  This will make the rooms bigger and more presentable.   You cannot believe I would suggest this but have you peaked into your teenager’s bedroom.  Ugh and Arg!!!!

Why is every day garbage day?  Empty the garbage.  Don’t leave piles of refuse in your waste baskets or in the kitchen.  Sometimes that stuff just stinks and I don’t want to know that you live on taker out food.    

What is a comfortable temperature?   Keep your house reasonably warm in winter and cool in summer.  It might cost a bit more to heat or cool the empty house during the day, but it will make a difference to people who you would like to stay and seriously consider buying. 

Why don’t people love my air fresheners and perfume?  Tone down the air freshener, scented candles or smelly perfumes.  It makes people suspicious of what this is disguising.  Open the windows for a bit before leaving.  Let fresh air in.  If we start sneezing when we enter – we are leaving.

Can I take a minute to open the drapes and let the sun shine in?  It is difficult to sell a home in the dark.  Make sure your home is light filled by opening up the drapes, drawing up the blinds and turning on the lights – even if it is the middle of the day.  It is only in Great Britain that all the doors to every room are closed.  Open them and let light pour through the house. 

How long will it take to sell my house?  It will take a whole lot less time if you make sure your house is presentable every day that it is on the market.  A little effort every day means fewer days that you have to keep up appearances.  

 

Valerie Zinger  valeriezinger@gmail.com 

Ottawa, Canada      613-859-7759

 

 
Star Posted by Valerie Zinger on 07/17/2012 03:10 AM   Comments (64)   Tips and Advice in the Home Selling Channel   zingers, selling, staging  
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64 Comments on 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Each Morning Before Leaving for Work

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JUL
17
576,255 Points 22 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Great advice Valerie.  Smells/odors are a big turnoff to any possible sale no matter how great the house might be otherwise!  It's equally important that the buyer can SEE what they are buying...let there be light!
11:44am • #45
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Evelyn:  So true and if you did the listing then you won't get one of those calls from a colleague telling you the house is a mess. 

Marilyn:  Okay, maybe after 4 weeks on the market and the Seller just gets tired but if he or she really wants to sell then every day is a sales day.

Iris:  See - you are motivated and willing.  That is a perfect combination.  Good luck with the sale of your home.  My pet is the dogs have their paws crossed in hopes it will be soon.

Donna:  I know I have said all this before but it does bear repeating.
12:07pm • #46
Outside Blog

Great advice!
12:41pm • #47
549,245 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Valerie, I know you are right on, but there are some sellers that just won't listen... even when they are informed of the possible monetary impact to them...

btw, thanks for you comments and re-blog.  Malcolm started the challenge and you were blogging profusely... but I never blogged just for the points, I blog for business primarily, but I do enjoy the company.  You are probably my favourite blogger on AR, I would love to see you write a book.  I would buy it =)
9:29pm • #48
JUL
18
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master
Chris. Thank you and I have started a book. Maybe your compliment will motivate me.
4:26am • #49
1,417,780 Points 28 Featured Posts Hit Router Called Shot Master

Thanks Valerie, such a great post.  I wish more sellers would take your advice.
4:45am • #50
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Gabe:  Buyers wouldn't have to try to imagine a clean house - they would see one and selling it would be easier.  
2:54pm • #51
1,357,492 Points 130 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

The perfumes and air sprays are something to avoid. Consider there are people allergic to these products.

Thanks to Cheryl for the reblog.

Margaret
9:23pm • #52
586,012 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Good tips Valerie and ADORABLE dog photo :-)

Your post said only in Great Britain are all the doors closed ... please add Ireland, where they also do exactly the same thing!  It's unbelievable that people would actually want each and every door closed at all times!  Guess they never heard of an Open Floorplan LOL
11:29pm • #53
JUL
19
415,366 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Perfect5.  I never really thought about it as a number, but those seven pretty much sum it up if you are trying to sell a house.
3:00am • #54
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Margaret:  This post got a few reblogs.  It hit a note with all of us.

Maureen:  Isn't Hoover adorable?  I wish he was 6 and not 16.  You are right about Ireland.  I noticed it there as well.  

Gary:  They certainly help you each mornng remember that strangers may be walking through your home and judging it.  Thanks for the 5. 
3:53am • #55
617,556 Points 46 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

When I leave for the office, I try to make sure there is nothing large stuck to my face fairfax county real estate agents Jan and Steve Bachman
3:54pm • #56
JUL
23
1,030,137 Points 67 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

My dogs would L♥VE to have company during the day - just don't block the driveway so the Amazon man can't deliver!  Opening BLINDS and DRAPES are biggies for me - no light/no see!
4:07am • #57
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Wallace:  Your guys look like they would be good company.  Fortunately the Amazon guy can park on the street in from of my house so I don't worry about his delivery times.  LOL
4:16am • #58
623,515 Points 8 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Keep the home airy and ordorless is a huge plus when buyers enter the home and not turn them off!
11:00am • #59
JUL
28
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Eileen:  So true.  Now, I love garlic but it does linger in the air after cooking and many people hate the smell.  Even with cooking, people need to think of the smells that will linger.  
4:39am • #60
JUL
30
922,047 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Valerie - I came over from Donna's reblog. This is a great post and congratulations on the feature.
5:20am • #61
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Thanks Toni.  I love reblogs because they give a little extra mileage to a post. 
5:45am • #62
AUG
20
905,168 Points 10 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Valerie, just wonder why some sellers fail to do these simple tasks before they leave the home. (Actually, this should be done even when the home is not on market for sale...lol)
8:02pm • #63
AUG
21
556,987 Points 122 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Praful.  I like to leave the house in the same shape that I want it to be in when I arrive - clean and tidy.  Still, if you have kids, a husband and/or a dog, there are challenges to this.  
5:55am • #64

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