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7 Questions to Ask Yourself Each Morning Before Leaving for Work

Reblogger Joanna Cohlan
Services for Real Estate Pros with Fresh Eyes For Your Home

Brought to us by Valerie Zinger of House Proud in Ottowa, Canada - these 7 Questions???? are right on target and it's great to see that the rules don't change across the northern border! Thank you Val for this one-it's terrific!

Compliments of Joanna Cohlan, Fresh Eyes For Your Home

Original content by Valerie Zinger

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

  

Comments(9)

Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Joanna..... it's a matter of forming new habits while your home is on the market..... actually, those are habits you should have anyway, right???? 

Jul 16, 2012 10:51 PM
Winston Heverly
Coldwell Banker Access Realty - South Macon, GA
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

Is that the pup breed that won in a recent dog show, just one big powder puff. All good points, especially the trash part. We always recommend to take the trash can and set in in the garage if you are showing. 

Jul 16, 2012 11:03 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Joanna- an excellent post to reblog and Valerie did a great job and pointing out what should be obvious to many sellers!

Jul 16, 2012 11:07 PM
Janis Borgueta
Newburgh, NY
Retired RE Salesperson

Okay Joanna.. now i need to visit Val.. that dog looks just like the dog I had a few years ago ... WESTIES are the best!!

NO Shedding!

Jul 16, 2012 11:17 PM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Joanna - great reblog by Valerie - she really knows how to prepare home for buyers and all these are great tips. I do find that Febreeze works really well and it doesn't cover smells, it eliminates them. BTW - if you get a chance stop by my post today becasue it's all about John McCormack and I know you're a fan (he reblogs so many of our posts) and he'd love to see a comment from you!

Jul 16, 2012 11:46 PM
John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Good morning Joanna -

I had missed this one the first time out so glad you re-blogged.  Have a super day my friend.

Jul 17, 2012 12:35 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Joanna - Thanks for the reblog - I always love everything Valerie has to say, and this post is no exception!

Jul 17, 2012 01:15 AM
Joanna Cohlan
Fresh Eyes For Your Home - Chappaqua, NY
Designing, Decorating & Staging Westchester Homes

Valerie, Hoover is incredibly gorgeous-that is a million dollar face! Is his name Hoover because he eats a lot? Congrats on the feature.

Barbara, absolutely it is about forming new habits when your house is on the market.  100%

Winston, all good points and the trash part is particularly important because no one needs to see that.

Kathy, Valerie did a great job and yes, it SHOULD be obvious but I guess the operative word is SHOULD!!!

Janis, yes an adorable Westie-great face! I had a bichon who always looked like he was smiling.

Glad you saw this one John and happy John McCormack Day-I think I hear fireworks celebrating your day!

Sally, this post is filled with great advice and I congratulate Valerie on the  feature.

Jul 17, 2012 11:13 AM