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Tips for Selling Your Home
18 items you can do yourself...to sell your home FASTER
- Keep It Cool! On warm days, make sure your air conditioner is turned down
enough to make the house pleasantly cool, so it is obvious that your home has air
conditioning. The prospective buyer may be uncomfortably warm and walking into
your nice cool house may be just the thing to tip the scales in your favor.
- Atmosphere Counts! Aroma of cookies or bread being baked adds to
a pleasant atmosphere...as does a nice fire glowing in your fireplace on a
chilly day.
- First Impressions Are Lasting Impressions! An inviting exterior
insures inspection of the interior. Keep your lawn trimmed and edged - the
flower bed cultivated - the yard free and clear of refuse.
- Sparkling Clean! A bright, tidy home greatly enhances its appeal to buyers.
Does your carpeting need to be cleaned or replaced? Clean walls, windows and bathrooms
will brighten things up. Keep the bedrooms tidy. The attic, basement and garage
need to be as neat and clean as possible. If you remove all unnecessary
articles, the full value of your storage and utility space will be displayed.
Do not leave a plumbers plunger next to the commode. And it is the first
impression that counts!
- Decorate Your Home - A Step Towards a Sale! Does any part of your house need
painting? Use neutral color paint colors on walls and ceilings. Repair and paint
all walls and ceilings that are damaged. Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce buyer
interest. It’s sometimes difficult for a prospective buyer to perceive how a
place can be made to look - show the redecorating first. A quicker sale at a
higher price may result.
- Fix That Faucet! Dripping water discolors the enamel and calls attention to faulty
plumbing. Needed little repairs detract from a home’s value and the few hours
you spend as a handyman can pay you large benefits.
A Day With The Carpenter! Loose door knobs, sticking drawers, and warped cabinet
doors are noticed by prospects! Have them fixed. Are your door and
window screens in good shape? What about the windows? Do they work well or do they need
attention? Are the gutters and downspouts free of debris?
- Closet Illusions! Clothes properly hung, shoes, hats and other articles neatly
placed will make your closets appear adequate. Remove some clothing, if necessary, to make
them look roomier.
- Dear To Your Heart Is The Kitchen! Colorful curtains in harmony with the floor and
countertops add appeal. Clear countertops help give a feeling of spaciousness.
And your appliances should be in good working order!
- Can You See The Light? Illumination is a welcome sign. Turn on
all the lights from the front door to the back...from top to bottom...and
the prospect will feel a glowing warmth otherwise hard to attain. And keep
your draperies open during the day!
- Soft Background Music! Very soft...make a home feel comfortable to a buyer. But turn
off the television - it’s too distracting. Let the buyer and agent talk free of disturbances.
- Three's A Crowd! Avoid having too many people present during showings. The prospect will
feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house. Remind the children to stay in the
background and out of the way. We want the prospects’ attention focused on your home, in
an unhurried way.
- Love Me, Love My Dog! Does not apply in home selling! Keep pets out of the way, under
control, and preferably out of the house. And a little air freshener is sometimes
advisable, particularly if the house has been closed up for some time. Also, please
empty litter boxes.
- Be It Ever So Humble! Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all,
it has been lived in.
- A Word To The Wise! Do not discuss price, terms, possession or other factors with
the buyers. Refer them to the Realtor. They are better able to bring the negotiation to
a favorable conclusion as intermediary third parties.
- Putting The Cart Before The Horse! Trying to dispose of furniture to the prospect
before they have purchased the house often loses a sale. Proper timing is important and
these matters are best dealt with after an offer has been negotiated.
- In The Shadows! We have found that showings are more effective if the salesperson
and prospect tour your property unaccompanied. The salesperson knows the buyer’s
requirements and can better emphasize those features. Please don’t follow the agent around.
- And Last But Not Least! We recommend that you have the property inspected before
you have it showed. This may make the property much more desirable and much less likely to
have big problems when the buyer has his own inspection. NO SURPRISES!
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