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Getting Ready to Sell
Steps
to Putting Your Home in Top Shape.
The Outside
1. Clean Front Yard
- The
first impression any agent or buyer has is of
the
outside of your
home as they
pull up to the
curb.
Toys and
tools should be put
away, and
hoses
should be
put up properly. The lawn should be
mowed,
walks
trimmed, hedges
shaped (cut below any
windows), trees
pruned.
Window screens
and
screen doors
should be
in place
and
serviceable.
2. Clean Façade
- Window coverings should appear correct from
outside. Wash the windows - try to make them
sparkle. Also wash the window frames and screens.
Porch lights and rain gutters should be clean and
neat. The roof should not have any missing shingles
or tiles. The house number should be clear and
visible. If necessary, remove rooftop antennae and
other unnecessary items in the yard or house.
3. Remove
Clutter - Keep the garage door closed. If the
garage is filled with lots of things and storage
items, move them to a storage locker. Garages need
to appear big and roomy. Also, motor homes, boats,
trailers and extra cars visually shrink the size of
a yard and home. It is a good idea to store these
elsewhere during the home for sale period.
4. A Front Door
That Invites You In - The front door is very
important. It seems to have a much greater impact on
buyers than seems reasonable. If you paint anything,
it is recommended that you seriously consider
painting the front door. Also, colorful, flowering
potted plants near the front door and a nice welcome
mat help. Now we enter the home.
The Inside
1. A Great Entry
- The entry way needs to be very neat and clean. It
make a big impact on buyers. Extra coats, jackets,
gloves and umbrellas should be put away.
2. Get Rid of
Clutter - One of the most important things you
can do to sell your home for top dollar is to remove
clutter before its first showing. An important part
of the price is based on the size, or square
footage, of the house. You do not want it to look
like you have outgrown your home because there is
not enough storage or square footage for all of your
belongings and furniture. Do everything you can to
improve the visual apparent size of your home. The
best thing to do is to get rid of any extraneous
furniture and put it in storage. Also, you should go
through the house - all of the rooms, closets,
cupboards, even the attic and basement, and, as
noted earlier, the garage, and send as much as you
can to storage.
3. Floors You
Can Eat Off Of - Tile, linoleum and wood floors
should be kept clean and in good condition.
Carpeting should be vacuumed, and if necessary
cleaned or replaced. Interior walls should be
cleaned, and painted if necessary. Electrical and
switch face plates should be repaired and cleaned.
4. High Wattage
Lights Create More Space - It is very helpful to
replace any low wattage bulbs with the highest
possible safe wattage in every lamp and light
fixture in the house. It is good to have at least
three light sources in each room. The brighter a
room is, the larger it will feel and appear. The
more space you have to sell, the more money you will
receive.
5. Sparkle From
the Inside, Too - It was earlier recommended
that you clean your windows, window frames and
screens from the outside. It is equally important
that you make them sparkle from the inside, as well.
6. Clean Rooms,
Counters and Appliances - It is very helpful
during the marketing period of your home, especially
during the first 3-5 weeks, that you keep all rooms
clean, including the kitchen and kitchen counters
and sinks. The bathroom should be kept smelling
fresh, with the toilet seat down. Sometimes,
something as small as replacing a bathroom curtain
can make a big difference in a buyers perception of
your house. The kitchen is very important, and clean
appliances, especially the stove, are necessary if a
home is to sell quickly for its best price. Also,
sometimes updating an outdated or broken light
fixture can pay back ten times.
7. Get Rid of
the Orange Formica and Avocado Appliances -
There are some items that age a home significantly
that are not too expensive too change or replace. It
is wise to explore the options and if nothing else,
at least be able to share with a buyer what it would
cost to change a particular item.
8. Distractions
- It is helpful in selling your home if items that
could distract potential buyers be put away. This
includes political signs and posters, rock music
signs and posters, religious items, pictures of
models, etc. Prospective buyers may or may not share
your views and tastes, and could be offended. In any
case, you want them focusing on your house, not
being distracted by these other items.
9. Make it Smell
Nice - Pets, smoking, cooking and mildew are all
elements that can cause odors in a home. You may not
notice these smells, but buyers may. These odors can
be reduced by steam cleaning your carpets and
upholstered furniture. Floors can be cleaned with a
disinfectant. Clean ash trays and be very vigorous
about keeping a clean, often-changed litter box. You
can also cook a few cinnamon sticks in a pot of hot
water or bake bread or cookies before an open house.
You can create the illusion of fresh baked cookies
by placing a dish of vanilla in a warm oven. You can
also create a nice scent by sending a lemon through
your garbage disposal.
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