| Preparing Your Home For Sale
First impressions count. A small investment in time and money will give your house an edge when the time comes to show it to a prospective buyer.
When you decide to sell your home, the most important thing to remember is that you are selling a product -- your house. You need to look at your home with buyer's eyes.
Think of your home as a theater, a stage set. The scenery must be right, the lighting perfect, the audience comfortable. The goal is to make is easy for prospective buyers to imagine themselves living happily in your home. This visualization should happen quickly. Research shows that buyers make the real decision about a house purchase in the first 15 seconds of seeing it!
My goal is to obtain the highest possible price for your home in the shortest possible time -- hassle free. Decades of combined real estate experience have shown that a few simple steps will help to achieve these goals. Here are some low cost, high return upgrades to improve the perceived value of your home.
Eliminate Clutter Inside and Out
Clutter makes rooms and the entire house feel smaller. Who wants to buy smaller? Uncluttering makes every room look and feel more spacious. Go through every room, closet and drawer. Don't forget the garage, yard and garden shed. When in doubt throw it out, sell it, store it or give it away.
Increase Buyer's Comfort
Eliminate strong personal statements. Your master suite and kitchen should look like a model home.
Clean-Up
A clean house sells more quickly and for more money that a dirty one. Get every surface, nook and cranny deep down squeaky clean. If you do nothing else, do this!
Fix-Up
The house should appear to be well cared for and in excellent condition. Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms -- these rooms are always at the top of a buyer's list.
Repairs
A motivated buyer will bring in a professional house inspector. Deferred maintenance often leads to price negotiation after the fact, or worse, withdrawal from the deal.
Decorating and Accessorizing
A fresh coat of paint doesn't cost very much but will add a lot of impact. Fresh flowers on the kitchen windowsill, pretty accessories like a charming area rug, new shower curtain and towels, a new comforter on the bed will pack a punch without breaking the wallet.
Use Light to Your Advantage
Wash all the windows inside and out, and let in as much natural light as possible.
Create a Welcoming Aroma
Eliminate offensive odors from pets, smoking or cooking. Lemon scented cleaning products leave a fresh, lingering aroma. And don't forget fresh air and sunlight.
Previous Page
Return to the Home Page
|
|
