Over the weekend, I toured 24 houses for sale in Montgomery County Maryland.
My buyers are ready to buy their first home! We've discussed how to buy a home and what to look for in a property. As exclusive buyer agents, we see lots of houses! So what is our best advice for selling your home?
Clean it!
Why is something so simple the best advice? Because dirt is a major turn off. Out of 24 houses, I saw one house was clean. Only one! And I wasn't being overly picky! I'll break down the major turn-offs for buyers. If you're house is on the market now or you are thinking of selling your home, consider these points.
- Take down the Christmas decorations. Yes, we saw a Christmas wreath on the front door of one of the houses for sale. Just to be clear, it's October. And you could tell from the condition of the inside of the house that they weren't trying to get ahead with holiday decor. It was last years wreath.
- Scrub the grease off the wall behind the stove or cooktop. I thought the backsplash had an intricate raised pattern but no, it was grease so thick that there were little chunks splattered across the backsplash. Of course, I found the grease by wiping my hand in it.
- Do not use scented plugins to mask a dirty house. Scented plugins are like perfume on a wet dog. You can still smell the wet & dirt but now it's mixed in with a sickeningly sweet odor that can take your breath away!
- Take out the trash. We will go into the basement to check the hot water heater and the furnace. Piles of stuff around the major systems in a house just makes our job more difficult. It's also a major turnoff for a potential buyer.
- Clear the clutter off kitchen counters. Kitchens are central gathering places in a home. Every home buyer goes to the kitchen to see if it "fits" their family. Our buyers look for clean large cabinets and kitchen drawers that open easily. Older appliances turn off home buyers. If you have older appliances and are not planning on replacing when you put your house on the market, clean them. Wash out the refrigerator, wipe down the microwave, cooktop & stove. If the kitchen is so old it's retro, then stage it with mid-century art.
- Clean up the yard and front porch for curb appeal. First impressions really matter especially when driving up to a house for sale. If your house is on the market, hire someone to clear out dead branches, weeds and yard debris. Trim bushes away from the house. Since it's October, put some pumpkins and mums on the front porch. If there is a shed or storage building in the yard, paint it and spruce it up with flowers or fall decorations. Make the home appear welcoming to all potential buyers.
#1 Advice for selling your house is the great way to attract home buyers.
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