Tips for Selling Your Home

1. Curb Appeal - Make the most of that first impression. A well manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter free porch welcomes prospects. So does a freshly painted or scrubbed front door. Sweep the driveway; pressure wash the house or sidewalks if necessary. In autumn, remember to rake those leaves! 

2. Eliminate Clutter - Put away small kitchen appliances and other items that are sitting on countertops and tables. Remove photographs from tabletops. Organize the closets. If there's not a reason to leave something sitting around, remove it! Store boxes in an out of the way location or rent a temporary storage unit so you can de-clutter every part of the house.

3. Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends - Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathrooms and the kitchen. Everything from floors to windows must be spotless. Remember to clean the oven and other major appliances. Skylights should be crystal-clear, too. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor touchups. Fresh paint adds charm and value to your property. Prospects would rather see how great your house really looks than hear how great it can look “with a little work”.

4. Consider Your Closets - Clean and organize the closets. The better organized a closet, the larger it looks. Now is the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.

5. Check Faucets and Bulbs - Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn out plumbing. Burned out bulbs leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let the little problems detract from what’s right with your home.

6. Outside Tasks - Clean the drain gutters. Buyers nearly always comment if gutters are full of leaves and it makes them question other maintenance issues. Store or organize items that make the yard look messy.  Make your front entry inviting. Decorate it, paint the door or buy a new door. It's the first look at your house, so make it a good one.

7. Pack It Up - Pack away most of your family photos. Buyers should be allowed to imagine their possessions in the home. Pack up your personal collections, too, so that buyers don't get so interested in looking at them that they forget to look at the house. When home buyers start deciding how their furniture will fit into your rooms, you're on your way to a contract.

8. Kill the offensive odors - They're the first thing buyers notice, and often a permanent turnoff. Odors from cigarette smoke and pets take top billing, with mildew not far behind. Eradicate the odors, then use room fresheners or potpourri to add a fresh clean smell. The smell of ‘just baked’ bread or cookies will also make it smell like home. 

9. Make Room For Space - Remove excess furniture to make rooms more spacious. Potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They are looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.

10. Don’t Shut Out a Sale - If cabinets or closet doors stick in your house, you can be sure that they will stick in a prospects 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.

11. Make Your Bathrooms Sparkle - Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtain.

12. Open Up In The Daytime - Let the sunshine in! Pull back curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your home is. Remove heavy drapes that keep out natural light, especially if there's a great view out the windows.

13. Create a Dream Bedroom - 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.

14. Lighten Up At Night - Outdoor lighting does wonders in the evenings, when many home buyers do drive-bys of properties. 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.

15. Create a sense of relaxation and warmth - Use fresh fruit in the kitchen, newly cut flowers in the hallway or family room, and a book and pillows on your favorite easy chair to show off your home. Plants go hand-in-hand with nearly any décor - living plants, not artificial versions.

17. Relax - Be friendly, but don’t try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distractions. It’s best to leave when an agent shows your home. It gives the Buyer a chance to take their time and make comments on how they would decorate or place furniture. Give them a chance to envision making it their home. They need to feel free to comment without the fear of offending you.  

18. Don’t Apologize

19. Keep a Low Profile - Nobody knows your home better than you do, but Realtors know buyers- what they need and what they want. If you are concerned about some of your homes’ features being overlooked, you might want to have your Realtor provide a “Special Features” page to compliment the flyers she/he prepared.