Sales Killers

 

You have a good idea of what your home is worth, and what makes it a great find for some lucky buyer. Now, it's time to get your home in shape to sell.

Fix Me First!

You may have a great home in a great neighborhood, but some problems will send your potential buyers running in the other direction. Handle these sales killers first:

• Odors: Nobody wants to buy a home that smells - and you could have home odors without being aware of it. If you smoke indoors, your home smells like smoke (even if you don't notice it). If you have pets, there may be pet odors. There also could be mildew smells you don't notice or have grown accustomed to. Have someone you trust take a "test sniff" throughout the home, then eradicate any odors.
• Water: A wet basement doesn't get better on its own, but it does cause musty odors and possible mold. If you have a wet basement, find out what it will take to fix it. When you have a bid on fixing the basement, I can help you decide whether it will pay off in the home's sale.
• Mold: Some forms of mold are toxic to your health; all forms are toxic to selling your home. If you have mold, get rid of it.
• Bad wiring: Wiring problems, flickering lights and erratic outages originating in your home (instead of with your power provider) can be dangerous. Fix them immediately.
• Plumbing issues: Like any other water problem, bad plumbing is a curse. If you have plumbing problems, find out how to get rid of them.

Less is More

You want buyers to see your home as spacious and clean. That means getting rid of the clutter. Be ruthless as you get rid of anything you don't need, use or want. If you wouldn't move it to your new home, unload it now. Oversized furniture especially can make rooms look smaller.

While you're purging clutter, don't forget these hot spots:

• Kitchen: Stow gadgets out of sight when not in use, and organize pantry closets and cabinets. The less you have on your counters, the more spacious they'll look.
• Closets: Buyers want lots of closet space, but even a huge closet looks tiny if it's completely full. Weed through your closets and organize what you keep.
• Garage: If your garage is too full of stuff to also hold a car, buyers will see it as skimpy. Organize tools, bikes and other garage items to show off your space.
• Dressers, desks and surfaces: Cleared surfaces help create calming, attractive spaces. Your buyers will tend to linger, giving them more time to fall in love with your home.
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