|
SELLING YOUR
HOME
Every seller
wants their home
to sell fast and
bring top
dollar. Does
that sound good
to you? Well,
it's not luck
that makes that
happen. It's
careful planning
and knowing how
to
professionally
spruce up your
home that will
send home buyers
scurrying for
their
checkbooks.
Here's how to
prep a house and
turn it into an
irresistible and
marketable home. |
 |
Disassociate
yourself with
your home -
Say to yourself
"This is not my
home; it's a
house - a
product to be
sold". Say
goodbye to every
room. Don't look
backward - look
toward the
future. |
|
|
De-personalize
- Pack up
those personal
photos and
family
heirlooms.
Buyers can't see
past personal
artifacts and
you don't want
them to be
distracted. You
want them to see
themselves
living in this
home - not you. |
|
|
De-clutter
- If you haven't
used it in over
a year, you
probably don't
need it. Why not
donate it or
recycle it?
Remove all books
from bookcases.
Pack up
knickknacks.
Clean off
everything on
kitchen
cabinets. Put
essential items
used daily in a
small box that
can be stored in
a closet when
not in use.
Think of this
process as a
head-start on
the packing you
will eventually
need to do
anyway. |
|
|
Rearrange
bedroom closets
and kitchen
cabinets -
Buyers love to
snoop and will
open closet and
cabinet doors.
This of the
message you are
sending with
what they see.
Alphabetize your
spice jars.
Neatly stack
dishes. Turn
coffee cup
handles facing
the same way.
Hang shirts
together,
buttoned and
facing the same
direction. Line
up shoes. |
|
|
Rent a
storage unit
- Almost every
home shows
better with less
furniture.
Remove pieces
that block or
hamper paths and
put them in
storage. Since
your bookcases
are now empty,
store them.
Remove extra
leaves from the
dining room
table to make
the room appear
larger. Leave
just enough
furniture in
each room to
showcase the
room's purpose.
You don't want
buyers
scratching their
heads and saying
"What is this
room used for?" |
|
|
Remove/replace
favorite items
- If you want to
take window
coverings,
built-in
appliances or
fixtures with
you, remove them
now. Pack those
items and
replace them, if
necessary. |
|
|
Make minor
repairs -
Replace cracked
floor or counter
tiles. Patch
holes in walls.
Fix leaky
faucets. Fix
doors that don't
close properly
and kitchen
drawers that
jam. Consider
painting your
wall neutral
colors,
especially if
you have grown
accustomed to
purple or pink
walls. Replace
burned out light
bulbs. If you've
considered
replacing a worn
bedspread, do so
now! |
|
|
Make the
house sparkle
- Wash windows
inside and out.
Rent a pressure
washer and spray
down sidewalks
and exterior.
Vacuum, wash and
wax daily. Dust
furniture,
ceiling fan
blades and light
fixtures. Bleach
dingy grout.
Replace worn
rugs. Hang up
fresh towels. |
|
|
Scrutinize
- Go outside
and open your
front door.
Stand there and
look. Do you
want to go
inside? Does the
house welcome
you? Examine
carefully how
furniture is
arranged and
move pieces
around until it
makes sense. |
|
|
Check curb
appeal -
you'll never get
a second chance
to make a first
impression! Keep
the sidewalks
cleared. Mow the
lawn. Paint
faded window
trim. Plant
yellow flowers
or group flower
pots together.
Yellow evokes a
buying emotion.
Trim your
bushes. Make
sure visitors
can clearly read
your house
number. |
|
|
NOW GET READY
TO SIGN A SALES
CONTRACT!!!
|
|
|
|
TOP 10 TIPS FOR
SELLING YOUR
HOME IN THE
WINTER |
|
|
Clear
a path -
continually
shovel a path,
sprinkle a layer
of sand over the
sidewalk and
steps and
remember to open
a path from the
street to the
sidewalk so
visitors don't
have to climb
snow banks. |
|
|
Let in the
light - Pull
up blinds, open
the shutters,
push back the
drapes in every
window. Turn on
every light,
including
appliance and
closet lights.
Brighten dark
rooms with few
windows by
placing
spotlights on
the floor behind
furniture. |
|
|
Turn on the
heat - Pump
up that
thermostat! You
want the temp
inside to be
comfortable and
to give the
buyer more of a
reason to
linger,
especially on a
cold day. Light
the fireplace,
but open the
damper, place a
grate in front
of it and don't
leave it
unattended for
very long. |
|
|
Create a mood
-Toss afghans or
throws across
the arms of your
sofas. Turn your
bathroom into a
spa by hanging
plush robes,
roll up wash
cloths, tie with
a ribbon and
place in a
basket on the
counter and set
up a grouping of
soaps, lotions
and shampoos.
Place vases
filled with
winter flowers
around the
house. Dress
your dining room
table for a
romantic dinner
for two. |
|
|
Turn on the
music - Turn
on soft music.
Jazz or
classical is
soothing. Do not
turn on a
commercial radio
station - fill
the CD changer
so your music is
continuous. |
|
|
Ease up on
the scents -
Many people are
allergic to
certain scents
and deodorizers,
so don't spray
the air or plug
in air
fresheners.
Don't burn
candles or spray
perfume in the
bedroom for the
same reason. If
you're going to
bake cookies or
simmer spices
such as cinnamon
in water on the
stove, put out
munchies so
buyers aren't
disappointed.
More than one
sad buyer has
said, "Oh, darn,
I thought there
were cookies in
here". |
|
|
Make it
visually
pleasing -
Display
photographs
showcasing your
summer flower
gardens and lush
green lawns.
Keep blinds
partially closed
that otherwise
show undesirable
outdoor scenery.
Make your house
sparkle:
|
Wash
windows |
|
Clean
out
cobwebs |
|
If
necessary,
re-caulk
tubs,
showers
and
sinks |
|
Polish
chrome
faucets
and
mirrors |
|
Clean
out
the
refrigerator |
|
Vacuum
daily.
If
your
carpeting
Is
plush,
vacuum
in
one
direction |
|
Wash
and
wax
floors |
|
Dust
furniture,
ceiling
fan
blades
and
light
fixtures |
|
Bleach
dingy
grout |
|
Empty
trash
and
recycling
bins |
|
|
|
Serve winter
foods -
Don't serve
muffins or any
other kind of
food that can be
popped into the
mouth - you want
buyers to linger
and notice
elements they
might otherwise
miss. Hot soups,
chili or stews
are delicious on
colds days, but
leave a
receptacle for
disposal of
paper goods. Hot
apple cider
makes a great
beverage choice. |
|
|
Provide
specific
information
- Attach printed
cards to items
and in rooms
that provide
further info the
buyer might miss
or might not
know. You have
so little time
to make an
impression - use
it! Tell about
the antique
dining room
chandelier. Be
careful about
placing "Nor
included in
sale" signs -
that will make
the buyer want
it, but you can
play that later
to your
advantage. |
|
|
Use timers
and technology
to your
advantage -
Plug indoor
lamps into a
timer to
automatically
turn on at times
buyers will be
present.
Consider using
motion sensors
that will light
up when a buyer
approaches your
doorstep. If you
use an answering
machine, turn it
off or mute
messages. |
|
