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SELLERS! SPEND A COUPLE OF HUNDRED DOLLARS AND SELL FASTER

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Centre Realtors

These items that may not cost much will help make a good first impression.

1. Mow the lawn , trim bushes and allow plenty of light in through  the windows. Mulch the flower beds.Remove weeds.The  front yard is first thing they see when they park the car.Sometimes they ask for the address and want to drive by and see the outside.

2.Wash windows and sliding door.

3.Paint the front door.

4.Buy a new door mat.

5.If the house number looks worn out, get new numbers

6.Put a nice wreath on the door.

7.If the door bell is not working fix it.

8.If there are any leaky faucets, fix them.Sorry, if there are many leaky faucets, and you need a plumber it will cost more, but to create a good impression you need to address this.But you will save on water bills if you fix them.

9.Buy light bulbs and replace burnt out ones wherever needed.The house should be brightly lit for showings.

10.Buy new shower curtains to replace the moldy ones. Buy matching towels.

11.Paint your mail box or replace it if rusted.

12.Hide your trash can.

13.Make it a habit to keep the kitchen sink empty.Either put them in dishwasher right away or wash them immediately.A sink full of dishes turns off people.

14 Decorate the front entrance with 2 nice big pots of  seasonal flowers .

15.Shampoo your carpet.

16.In winter make sure the heat is comfortable and that the house is not too cold.In summer turn on  the airconditioner and keep it cool.Or if you have fans keep them on in all the rooms.

17.Do not let your pets greet people at the door. Some people will not enter a house with pets.They are terrified of animals.If possible take the dog for a walk when expecting a showing. Or make arrangements for agent to come first and take the pet inside.

18.Hide your laundry in the washing machine.

19.Get a professional cleaning person clean the house and then just maintain it that way.

20.Put out potpourri and if you are going to be home light scented candles. I prefer flameless candles. (They work on batteries.)

 

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When you read about events please check the year for the event as some people find information a year later and think it is for that year. . The posts remain online even after the event.

Gita Bantwal is a Realtor with RE/MAX Centre Realtors in Bucks County, a Northern suburb of Philadelphia. You can view 1000s of listings on her web site www.GitaBantwal.com

 

She can be reached at 215-343-8200x124 or direct 215-275-8491 or via email gita01@aol.com

If you would like a FREE MARKET EVALUATION OF YOUR HOME IN PHILADELPHIA, BUCKS or MONTGOMERY COUNTY call me at 2152758491

 Gita specializes in Active adult communities and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist. She holds the ABR designation (Accredited Buyers Representative) and specializes in selling to first time buyers as well as move up buyers.Gita also hold the CRS designation , Certified Residential Specialist and the CDPE designation as well. Information about real estate market is deemed to be correct but is subject to errors and omissions and should be verified independently.. Opinion expressed by me or others  in my post and comments is not to be construed to be  legal advice.I am licensed in Pa. Check real estate laws in your state as they may be different than in Pa.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG         CLICK HERE   OR EMAIL ME AT Gita01@aol.com

 

Mesa, Arizona Real Estate Mesa Arizona Realtor
Homes Arizona Real Estate LLC - Mesa, AZ
AzLadyInRed
Great list to provide to your sellers :-) 
May 12, 2007 07:24 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thank you ,T eri.I have been thinking of getting ePro. Has it helped you ?
May 13, 2007 11:34 PM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Gita, I have stopped by some Open Houses that the Sellers should have been given this list!!!

Oh by the way maybe once they hide the laundry in the washing machine, they will take the next step and wash it......LOL 

May 14, 2007 01:22 PM
Dan Allred
Allred Realty - Thousand Oaks, CA
DRE#01761967
Gita- Great ideas and when we all gwet the sellers to adhere to them life will be much easier!
May 14, 2007 06:33 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Thank you Teri,George and Dan. If we give the listing at the listing appointment,the seller may not be offended. Can you imagine how most would feel if we gave it at a later date? They would think you wrote it specifically for them.I am fortunate that recently I have had great listings, Very well maintained and a pleasure to show.But the market is slow.
May 14, 2007 11:07 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Just a note on the potpourri. The fragrance should not be too strong. If they use air freshners in bathrooms , it should not be overbearing. And candles should be lit only when someone is home.Many years ago, there was an open house in the area and the seller/agent had lit a candle. They did not blow it off before leaving.The cat knocked it over and there was a fire. The house was destroyed.
May 23, 2007 10:32 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC

Good advice, Gita.

Cynthia Tilghman, Hubert, NC New Home Specialist

 

May 26, 2007 12:13 AM
Joe Long
Waterstone Mortgage - Madison, WI
Purchase Perfect

Also,

1.  Leave all windows open during an open house to expand the size of the room,

2.  A drop of Vanilla in the oven at about 350 for ten minutes makes a house smell like home,

3.  Park the car around the corner - Never leave a car in the driveway or garage,

4.  Painting two four walls in a room a light color will make that room appear to be larger - It tricks the eye and,

5.  Always, Always, Always patch and paint any cracks in the walls and ceilings - There is no reason your house should "feel" older than it is.

May 26, 2007 05:47 AM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Good points, Joe. I never park in the driveway, for safety reasons, so that my car can not be blocked .Also I want to make it convenient for prosepcts to park their cars.
May 26, 2007 06:29 AM
Kathy Somers
Stage it First - Toronto, ON
Stage it First Home Staging

Gita, A consultation from a Home stager doesn't hurt either. Great post. I recently went into a home that I was asked to consult on and there were flies on the floor beside the window. Yuk. What a turn off. Let's all work together to educate the homeowners about what helps their house to sell.

May 26, 2007 01:20 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel
Kathy, A Home Stager will be great. The major  3 turnoffs are odors, bugs, and clutter. You can not change a floor plan nor can you change location but there are so many other  things the seller can control.
May 26, 2007 10:33 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

George, I agree.

Jun 19, 2018 05:09 AM