Preparing Your Home to Sell:
Examine your home as if you were buying it! If your home exhibits outstanding "curb appeal," you'll attract more buyers. Most buyers see a messy house as extra work. A well-manicured lawn, cleaning swept entry area, and inviting doorway will show pride of ownership and attract buyers.
- Clean up anything that might detract from an appealing first glance- oil spills on the driveway, toys laying in the yard, or marks/dents in the garage door.
- Repairing, painting, and/or replacing anything that detracts from the appeal of your property is a great idea. Shampoo the carpets, wax floors, and clean windows, screens, and window coverings.
- Rearrange your furniture to make each room look as spacious as possible. Removing clutter from shelves, counters, and closets will make the living space appear larger.
- Many buyers prefer neutral tones and decor. Consider re-painting or modifying your decorations to appeal to a wider base of buyers.
- Determine which items remain with the property and which articles go with you. If you have a favorite chandelier, bookcase, or wall display, be sure to clearly define these items before you market your property. You may even want to replace such items so there is no misunderstanding on the part of a prospective buyer.
- Imagine you are looking at your home as if you were a prospective buyer. Does each room look welcoming? Consider putting fresh flowers out, turning the lights on, perching a teddy bear on a child's bed, or setting the dining room table.
- You might love your pets and allow them complete freedom throughout your home, but keep in mind some buyers have negative reactions to pets. Your safest bet is to keep all pet areas clean and contain them during showings to ensure the comfort of all prospective buyers.
- Most prospective buyers view a home when the owner is not present. Buyers are more comfortable asking questions, pointing out defects, discussing prices, etc. In some cases, potential buyers will "rush" though a home if the owner is present. Let the real estate professional "show" the house. He or she knows the business and will present your property to its best advantage.
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