We all want buyers to stroll through our "listed" home and go all goo-goo over it. "Oh my, your house is beautiful. I LOVE everything you've done." We WANT to hear those words, but we also want them to mean it.
Here's How To Get "List Ready" and Ready To Sell.
When I'm heading off to a listing appointment, I AM prepared! Really prepared! I bring the listing agreement and MY LIST (see below) to hand to my clients once we've sat down and discussed my Market Analysis Report and how I arrived at their listing price. I also include the following letter & list.
Dear Sellers:
Please try the following steps while preparing your home to get it in tip-top listing condition. Please don't be offended, as that is not my intention. My JOB is to help you sell your home for the highest possible price and in the shortest amount of time. In order for this to happen, we must have a reasonable asking price, and have the home properly prepared.
Of course, all situations are different and the market also plays a big role. BUT to do my best, you must do your best. Please consider the following:
- PUT on your BUYER'S SHOES (you are going to pretend you are a buyer and have NEVER seen your home before)
- Walk around the front, starting at the curb. Look to your left, to your right, down the street, up the street and down. Now, look good and hard at the front of your home. DO YOU LOVE IT? Is it welcoming? Just so-so? Desperate looking? Does it beckon you out of your car? Or do feel like squealing away? What ever needs to be done to spiff it up, DO IT: mow, weed, rake, plant new flowers/plant, and PAINT the outside if it's been 10 plus yrs. (If you can). The OUTSIDE of your home can do one or two things: get potential buyers OUT of the car and into the home. Or NOT.
- Inside: How fresh does your home smell? Musty? Old? Pet odors going on? Or, is it WONDERFUL? If other than the latter question, you may need to PAINT--use a "safe" earth-tone color.
- CARPETING: Old? New? Smelly? Either get it cleaned by a professional or have it replaced with a neutral tone that fits most buyers needs.
- Clean and straighten cupboards, drawers and closets. BECAUSE people will be snooping. After all, they need to know if their STUFF will fit.
- Update old kitchen appliances and bathroom facets, if at all possible, and if its in your budget. WOMEN love this. If you can't, then shine them up like a new dime.
- Clear counters, leaving only a coffee pot and toaster. Things you use daily. Women LOVE counterspace.
- Removed MOST magnets from the frig and photos from the walls. You do NOT want people stopping to get to know YOUR family. You want them looking at the home they WANT to buy and make it their own.
- De-clutter ALL rooms! Less is more when selling
- Scrubb sinks, tubs, facets, floors, and keep carpet vacuumed. Make it SHINE!
- Keep pets safely "away" or locked up during showings.
- Be very flexible when people want to see the house. They may only have a certain time frame--bend over backward to let them come by.
- GET out of the house during showings. Do not be a Chatty-Cathy. Let the Realtors handle things. Walk around the block, anything.
NOW...keep up on all these items during the listing period---you never know which buyer is THE buyer! Good luck.
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