Thinking About Selling Your Home?

 Preparing Your Home to Sell

PREPARING YOUR HOME TO SELL

The most important thing in selling your home is making sure your home is ready to receive buyers.

Most sellers only consider the top dollar they can get for their home and never stop to consider how their home looks to a potential buyer.

Pretend you are the buyer. Walk through your front door and take a look around. What do you like and dislike about what your see. Chances are your buyer will feel the same as you do.

Here are a few tips that will make your home sell faster and for the most money.

IF ALL YOU CAN AFFORD IS A LITTLE LABOR:

1. CLEAN YOUR HOUSE TOP TO BOTTOM. Pay particular attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. Buyers really like to feel they are buying almost new. Pay attention to any cobwebs, dirty vents, ceiling fixtures and light globes.

2. Make sure countertops in the kitchen are clean and small appliances are stored away. Dirty dishes should never be left in the sink. Trash cans should always be emptied.

3. Always make the beds, hide the dirty clothes and towels. If you have pets, they should be properly placed in an area of the home that is least distracting to the buyer. Remember, not all people are animal lovers.

4.Place air fresheners in the home. Cinnamon/spice is usually nice for the kitchen. Use fresheners in the bathrooms.

5. Please don't smoke in the house. The smell permeates the carpet, draperies and furniture.

6. Steam clean carpets. If any  carpeting needs stretching, get them stretched now. This is an obvious cosmetic flaw.

7. Pressure wash the exterior of your home, driveway, walkways, deck and patio. Clean gutters if needed.

8. Weed your flower beds, prune your shrubbery, cut and edge your lawn. Clean up any yard clutter.  Plant bright annual flowers in concentrated splashes around the home.

9. Make sure your entrance is clean and gives that welcome home feeling.

10. The most common place that gets neglected by sellers is the garage. If you cannot get your cars in the garage, then you have too much clutter. It needs to be removed and stored elsewhere. The garage walls should be painted and the garage floor should be clean and swept. Remember, buyers do look in the garage!

IF YOU CAN AFFORD A LITTLE SPRUCING UP, ADD:

1. Paint the interior walls and ceilings. Remove any dated wallpaper and replace with a light neutral paper or paint. Stay clear of any particular style, such as country, modern, etc.

2. Paint the shutters and front door of your home.

3. Replace the mailbox if it is old and battered.

4. Replace torn or missing window screens.

5. Replace any double paned windows on which the seal has broken. These appear to be foggy, because there is moisture trapped between the layers of glass.

6. Replace any rotted wood in window facings and doors.

7. Paint exterior of the home if needed.

8. Replace worn, outdated carpet and vinyl with a light, neutral color.

MORE GOOD ADVICE:

1. If you don't have an answering machine or service, get one! Agents must be able to leave a message for you prior to showing.

2. If you know your home is going to be shown, turn on all the lights and put on some soft music. It gives the buyer that warm welcome home feeling. Try not to be home while your home is being shown. If you must be home, make yourself scarce. Let the agent show your home. Don't worry, they can find their way around. Your buyer will stay longer and give your home more consideration if you are not there.

3. To avoid last minute problems and stress, You may consider hiring an INDEPENDENT HOME INSPECTOR to inspect your home prior to listing. He/She will give you a list of items that will most likely be an issue with your buyer.

Remember: Repairs you make prior to selling your home are not considered improvements but "homeowner maintenance". They will not increase the market value of your home. However, not doing needed repairs certainly will decrease the value of your home and add to its time on the market.