As Realtors, it's our job to price your home correctly, aggressively market the home, and insure that all necessary contracts and paperwork are done properly. But selling a home is a team effort and as the seller you play a critical role in getting your home sold.
Your biggest job is keeping your home in show ready condition. Yes, that's a lot of work and one of the more stressful things about selling a home. But we work with a lot of buyers and I can't stress enough how important it is to keep your home clean and decluttered. From their perspective, a home that is free of clutter and looks and smells clean translates to a home that has been well cared for. And that can translate to offers!
So what can you do to make sure your home is buyer friendly?
11 Things You Can Do To Make Sure Your Home Ready To Show
- The entryway into your home is going to set the tone for that all-important first impression. Make sure your front door and the area around it are clean, and free of things like spider webs, built up dust or debris. Repaint the front door if it's looking a little worn. A new doormat wouldn't hurt either. Place some seasonal plants near the entrance for that final "Welcome Home" touch. (Just be sure to keep those plants watered and maintained!)
- Clean the windows. Windex makes a great product that makes window cleaning a breeze! It hooks onto your garden hose. Spray it on...rinse it off...and voila! Sparkling clean windows. Especially good for windows in high places.
- Clear the kitchen counter of everything except the essentials. Counterspace is a premium and you want to show off every square foot of it. Store the Cuisinart, canisters, etc. in a cabinet. If you really don't foresee needing them, get a jump on packing and store them away.
- Don't store things like cereal, pots, etc. on top of the fridge. When a buyer sees that, they think "Not enough storage."
- Don't forget to clean your oven and dishwasher! Nothing says "ick" to a buyer like a dirty oven.
- Eliminate questionable kitchen smells. Run some chunks of fresh lemon or baking soda through your garbage disposal periodically.
- Clean the carpets. Once they're clean, protect them. If you have kids or just a lot of traffic, buy a roll of carpet protector for high traffic areas. It's what you see used in model homes.
- Lovingly store personal photos and the kids art work in an acid free photo box for the next house. You want buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home and not get distracted with your personal belongings.
- Bathrooms -- there is no such thing as too clean when it comes to a bathroom. A new shower curtain and towels can help present a clean, fresh look. And make sure your tub and shower sparkle. Trust me when I tell you that buyers WILL pull back the shower curtain, or open the shower door to see what is behind it. Like your kitchen, stash your personal grooming things in a drawer or cabinet. Maximize your counter space. Buy some wonderful smelling bar soap and put it in an attractive soap dish. It works like an air freshener without the "Oh, that's air freshener" smell.
- Remove and store, or give away any unwanted or unused clothing so your closet appears more spacious. (Donate some of those things so you have less to move!)
- Consider replacing a worn out vinyl floor with vinyl tiles. They're not expensive and they're easy to install yourself. If you have dingy grout, consult a professional steam cleaner.
##
For more helpful hints on selling your home, visit the Clay Team online. Or drop us an email at carolclay@kw.com.
Comments(4)