FSBO Help Part 3:
"Top 10 Ways to Sell Your Home Faster Than the Neighbors (tips 1-5)" 

TIP #1:  CLEAN!!!
This may seem obvious, but you would be surprised how many sellers don't clean their home thoroughly before it's put on the market.  This doesn't just mean do the dishes and vacuum teh rugs.  You need to clean everything as if there is going to be a military-style inspection in the morning!  Buyers will be scrutinizing every nook and cranny of your property, so make sure the windows are spotless, scrub the grout in the bathroom, clean the dust out of cabinets and the crumbs out of drawers, dust the blinds, clean cobwebs out of corners, etc., etc., etc. 
GO THE EXTRA MILE:  Hire a professional cleaning crew when you first put your home on the market.  They will remember to clean things that most homeowners overlook, and buyers will notice.  Plus, the time and energy saved will be worth every penny!

TIP #2:  GET RID OF YOUR CLUTTER!!!
I cannot stress this one enough!  The best way to explain this tip is to explain what it doesn't mean.  It doesn't mean shove everything in the closet... buyers look through closets.  It doesn't mean put all of your catalogues into neat piles and arrange your hundreds of knick-knacks neatly on shelves and countertops.... organized clutter is still clutter!  Here's what this tip does mean:  go for a minimalist look, even if that is not your style.  You want the buyers looking at your property, not your things, and believe me they WILL look at your things.  I don't care how cool your vacation trinkets are, or how long you've been working on that Special Moments figurine collection, PUT THEM AWAY!  I guarantee you, if they buyer is distracted by your stuff, they won't remember your house. 
DON'T FORGET:  De-clutter your fridge!  Kids' artwork, unnecessary magnets, photos, and invitations will distract buyers.  Clear everything off teh refrigerator except possibly your events calendar, and your list of important phone numbers.

TIP #3:  HIDE YOUR FAMILY... PHOTOS!
You've already packed away all of your knick-knacks, trinkets, and decorative souvenirs.  Now comes the hard part.  Pack your family photos.  I know your kids are cute, and your wedding photos came out great, and the pictures of your grandparents are sentimental... but the idea here is to neutralize the house.  It's hard for buyers to imagine the place as their home when everywhere they look there are pictures reminding them that it's your home.
IT'S NOT AS HARD AS YOU THINK:  You don't have to put away every single family photo, but if you have a wall or a table full of picture frames, they have to go.  Limit pictures to not more than 1 for small rooms, and nor more than 2 or 3 for large rooms.

TIP #4:  SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!
Repair cracked tiles, fix loose or crooked cabinetry, replace torn screens and broken blinds, steam clean or replace the carpets, and call a plumber for leaky faucets and running toilets.  Of course, this is not an exhaustive list.  The point is, if you don't take care of the small details buyers will wonder what else you neglected.

TIP #5:  PAINT!
Painting is one of the easiest, most cost-effective things you can do to make your home stand out against the competitiion.  I know it's cliche, but very few sellers actually take the time to do it.  Make sure you choose warm, neutral colors (beiges and tans, NOT stark whites).  Also, don't stop at the living room and dining room.  Most sellers ignore the bedrooms, and this is a huge mistake... particularly if you have kids.  "Barbie pink" and "Ninja Turtle green" might be really fun for your preschooler, but they will probably turn off a buyer.  As much as you don't want to go through the hassle of repainting these rooms, a buyer doesn't want to pay for a house that they will have to put so much work into.  Also, remember that the exterior of you home needs paint as much as the interior does, if not more so.  First impressions are made even before the buyer walks through the door, and a fresh coat of exterior paint will do wonders.  Don't forget the front door, trim, and porch/balcony railings!
EXTRA TIP:  Just because you have wallpaper doesn't mean you should ignore this tip.  In fact, get rid of the wallpaper.... I guarantee you that 9 out of 10 buyers will think your flower patterns are outdated!

(TIPS 6-10 WILL BE POSTED ON WEDNESDAY 3/12)

(This is the third post in our 7 part series "FSBO Help".... Add us to your "favorites" and stay tuned for more!)

FSBO Help Part 1: "Thinking INSIDE the Box:  Packing to Stay Ahead of the Pack"
FSBO Help Part 2: "Why Staging is Taking Center Stage"
FSBO Help Part 4: "Top 10 Tips to Sell Your Home Faster Than the Neighbors (tips 6-10)"

Meghan Mullee
Jupiter, FL Real Estate
www.take5team.com

Copyright 2008 Meghan Mullee