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UN-CLUTTER—Now is the time to spring
clean even if its not quite spring! Remove as much
as you can, box up a few of your items to make table
tops look neater, closets look larger etc.
PAINT—If your
home has bold colors in the bedrooms you may want to
tone it down to a neutral color. Remember that
lighter colors tend to make spaces look a little
larger as well.
PETS—Make
arrangements for your pets when your home is being
shown. There are some people who will rule out
viewing your home if they see a beware of dog sign
for example. It is important that they feel safe
while viewing and not cut their visit short. Place
your pet in a kennel while showing or better yet
take them for a walk.
PET ODOR—If you
have a pet ( dog , cat, reptile or other ) it is
important to have a pleasant smelling home. Have
your carpets cleaned, buy air fresheners and if you
are home during the showing place a little vanilla
in a pot on the stove to simmer while showing.
YARD WORK—Curb
Appeal plays a big part in selling your home. It is
time to trim it up, mulch those beds and add some
color around the front entrance. Some nice potted
plants or hanging baskets may do the trick. Keep
your yard cut and as green as possible. “If the
outside looks this good ...then they must take great
care of the inside” is the most common statement
that a Realtor hears while
showing.
POOL MAINTENANCE—Green pools scare
some people away from buying. The common perception
of a green pool is that there is a problem. Clear
pools work wonders. Run your filter while showing so
that your potential buyers feel as though everything
works.
OTHER MAINTENANCE—In
most cases you have already started doing the little
things that needed to be done. But as much as you
can take care of things such as re-caulking your
tubs and sinks, make sure the roof is in good order
with no leaks and is free of debris. Make sure your
outlets are working, look for wood rot and fix it
before the home inspector finds it.
LIGHTING—Dark
homes are harder to sell. Make sure you have good
lighting. Open the curtains and blinds when showing
your home.
FEWER IS BETTER—Whether
you are selling yourself or working with a Real
Estate professional the fewer members of the family
that are home the better. If working with an agent,
take a walk around the block or go for ice cream.
Your potential buyer may feel uncomfortable or feel
as though they are intruding upon your space if you
are there.
PRICE IT RIGHT—price
does matter. If you are too high you will not get
the number of showings you need in order to sell and
if you are too low then you will have cheated
yourself out of equity that you have worked hard
for. If you choose not to work with a real estate
professional then hire an appraiser to determine the
value of your home. Most appraisals cost between
$275-$350.
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