Preparing Your Home for Sale
Selling Your Home Selecting Agent Pricing Marketing Inspection About a CMA CMA Short Sales and Foreclosures
As a homeowner, you can
play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take
the following steps, you will help your real estate agent sell your home
faster, at the best possible price.
The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to
enlist a quality home service professional. The right professional can help
you get everything in order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a
thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important things. Find a
contractor now.
Make the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch
welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted ? or at least freshly scrubbed
? front door. If it´s autumn, rake the leaves. If it´s winter, shovel the
walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your
home, the better. Find a landscaper or painter to help.
Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here´s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the
bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading,
consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to
your property. If you´re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or
painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how
great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a
little work." Find a cleaning service or handyman to help.
Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or
worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the
dark. Don´t let little problems detract from what´s right with your home.
Find a plumber, electrician or general contractor to help.
Don´t Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will
also stick in a prospect´s mind. Don´t try to explain away sticky situations
when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your part can smooth
the way toward a closing. Find a handyman to help.
Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller
skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low
hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for
uninitiated visitors.
Make Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living
space. They´re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and
basement are clean and free of unnecessary items. Find a contractor to help.
Consider Your Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now´s the time to box
up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or
unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your
best towels, mats, and shower curtains. Find a contractor to help.
Create Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious
look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains
are a must.
Open up in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can
see how bright and cheery your home is.
Lighten up at Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and
outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and
warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled
with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves,
they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home.
Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep
Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction.
When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view
your home with a minimum of distraction.
Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a
prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let
your experienced real estate agent handle the situation.
Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But real estate agents know buyers
- what they need and what they want. Your agent will have an easier time
articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the background.
Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to
sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of
all.
Defer to Experience
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let
them speak to an expert - your real estate agent.
Help Your Agent
Your agent will have an easier time selling your home if showings are
scheduled through his or her office. You'll appreciate the results!
FASY REAL ESTATE - "Your SECOND home is our FIRST priority!"
609.398.8000 fax: 609.398.5084 cell: 609.602.4493
