Guide to Selling your Home
Make the Most of that First Impression:
Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends:
Here's your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up in the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh paint or wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. Prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look, "with a little work."
Check Faucets and Bulbs:
Dripping water rattles the nerves. Burned out bulbs leave prospects in the dark. Don't let little problems detract from what's right with your home.
Don't Shut Out a Sale:
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect's mind. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
Think Safety:
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence safe for visitors.
Make Room for Space:
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic, storage room, and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
Consider Your Closets:
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the time to box up those unwanted clothes and either store them elsewhere or donate them to charity.
Make Your Bathrooms Sparkle:
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains.
Open up in the Daytime:
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is.
Lighting:
When you know someone is coming by to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights - even during the day. At night, a lit house gives a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on the lights prevents harsh shadows and it brightens up any dim areas.
Fragrances:
Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people find the smells of those sprays offensive, not to mention that some may be allergic. If you want to have a pleasant aroma in your home, have a potpourri pot. Or turn on a stove burner (or the oven) for a moment and put a drop of vanilla extract on it.
Keep the House Tidy:
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is recommended that you develop the habit. Pick up papers, and other clutter, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a show home.
Try Not to be there:
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through.