| Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Commonly referred to as "staging", your homes first impression is one of the most imprtant factors to selling a home. Remember, your home competes with the other homes
on the market. Price is part of the marketing equation, but once a buyer is in your home it is all about how your home feels to the buyer. Make a great first impression with
a clean and uncluttered home. You want the buyer to visualize themselves in your home, so over personalization with family photos, interesting artworks, dark paint colors and
displays full of "collectables" may not serve you well in the showing process.
FRONT ENTRY – It’s the first thing your buyers see as they wait for the door to open. Repaint the door, clean the windows, and remove dirt, dust, and spider
webs. Make sure the lights are on, the doorbell works, and the doormats are inviting.
INSIDE - Take a close look room by room. Try to be objective and see the home as a potential buyer might see your home. Think in terms of sparkling clean, uncluttered,
and spacious. Clean off coffee tables, end tables, countertops, mantels, desks, and bedroom furniture. Minimize personal items and family pictures. Remember, your buyer is looking
for their dream home. Help them to feel like they are touring their dream home not invading your personal home.
CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN! – Have the carpets shampooed, wax the floors, wash the walls, blinds drapes, and lighting fixtures. Consider engaging a cleaning service.
KITCHEN – This area should be gleaming. Check for aligned cabinet doors and tighten loose hinges. Clear off countertops leaving as little as possible. Scrub the
floors, sinks and countertops. Clean the stove, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. Don’t forget the front of the refrigerator. Remove all clutter from the cabinets
and the pantry.
BATHROOMS – These rooms need to sparkle, put a shine on everything. Scrub the floors, sinks and counters. All cosmetics and toiletries must be put away. Consider
re-caulking tubs and showers. Remove mineral deposits and grime from the walls and shower enclosures. Put out your best set of matching towels.
A LIGHT APPEARANCE – As a rule, do everything to lighten the appearance of your home. Raise the blinds and open drapes. Turn on all lights and keep them on. Repaint
any room beginning to look shabby. Always use light colors.
FURNITURE – The less furniture, the larger the room appears to be. It’s a FACT. Get rid of a few pieces and rearrange the ones you can’t live without.
CLOSETS – Closets are very important features to today’s buyers. Remove out of season clothing and get rid of what doesn’t fit. Spacious closets are
the goal regardless of size. Organize the shelves and most importantly organize the shoes on the floor.
REPAIRS – Identify and repair dripping faucets, sticking or creaking doors, drywall imperfections, etc. When people see areas of disrepair, they wonder how the home
has been cared for and begin to anticipate unseen problems.
First Impressions are Lasting Impressions!
You’ll be well rewarded to Make Improvements Now!
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