As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help me 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. Here are a few more pointers:
Preparation
- 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.
- Invest a few hours for future dividends. Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, and 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.&“
- 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.
- 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.
- Think about safety. Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, stray 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.
- Consider your closets. The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now is 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.
- 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.
Showing Your Home
- Open up in the daytime. Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and draperies 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 out—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. When it’s time to show your home, it’s time to turn down the stereo or TV—don’t let them distract prospects’ attention away from your home.
- 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 me address the concerns.
- Keep a low profile. Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But I know buyers—what they need and what they want. Keeping the conversation primarily between me and the prospects will help me articulate the virtues of your home.
- 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 directly to me—that’s what I’m here for.
- Help me help you. I’ll have an easier time selling your home if all showings are scheduled through my office. You’ll appreciate the results!
Any Questions?
That’s what I’m here for! Please feel free to phone me at your convenience (734-637-5897) or contact me via e-mail.
