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GETTING READY TO SELL
DISCONNECT YOUR EMOTIONS
You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertenly create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.
MAKE YOUR HOME "ANONYMOUS"
The reason you want to make your home "anonymous" is because you want buyers to view it as their potential home. When the potential homebuyer sees your family photos hanging on the walls, it puts your own brand on the home and momentarily shatters their illusions about living in the house themselves.
Put away the family photos, trophies, collectible items, and souvenirs. Put them in a box and put them in a storage area for a few months.
UNCLUTTERING THE HOUSE
Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics and even basements. You want as much clear space as possible.
Take a step back and pretend you are a buyer. Let a friend help point out areas of clutter, as long as you can accept their views. Let your agent help you too!
KITCHEN CLUTTER
First, get everything off the counters. Find a place where you can store everything in cabinets and drawers.Of course, you may notice that you do not have cabinet space to put everything. Clean them out. Things that rarely get used put them in a box and take them to a storage area.
CLOSET CLUTTER
Closets are a great place for accumulating clutter, though you may not think it is clutter. We are talking about the clothes and shoes that you never wear but can't live without! Do without them for a few months and put them into a box for storage.
STORAGE AREA CLUTTER
Basements, garages, attics and sheds accumulate not only clutter, but junk. These areas should be as empty as possible so that buyers can imagine what they will do with the space. Remove anything that is not essential and take it to the storage area.
Or have a garage sale!!!!!!!!!!!!
COSTS OF REPAIRS
DO NOT do anything expensive, such as remodeling. If possible, use savings to pay for any repairs and improvements-do not charge up credit cards or obtain a new loan. You do not want to so anything that will affect your ability for your next mortgage.
PLUMBING AND FIXTURES
Prospective home buyers play with everthing. They flick light switches. They open everything with a handle. They turn on all the faucets and flush all the toilets.
All of your sink fixtures should look shiney and new. If this cannot be done by cleaning, then it is a good idea to buy new ones. Having nice shiny fixtures makes an impression. Make sure all of the hot an cold water knobs are easy to turn and the faucets do not leak. If they do, replace the washers.
It sounds like hard work, but it's pretty easy--even for the inexperienced!!!
Check to make sure you have good water pressure and that there are no stains on any of the porcelain.
CEILINGS, WALLS AND PAINTING
Check all of the ceilings for water stains, whether the leak is caused by plumbing or a faulty roof. Find the leak and repair it. Nothing irritates a buyer more than finding out-after the fact- about plumbing or roof leaks.
If a water stain is left after something you have already repaired, do the cosmetic work necessary to improve the desirability of your home. This means painting.
You may have to paint anyway, especially if the dirt has accumulated in spots or you have an outdated color scheme. Painting makes a home look fresh and new in the inside.
Painting can be the best investment when selling your home. Do not choose colors based on your own preference, but based on what would appeal to the buyers. Try to choose neutral colors to make your rooms appear bright and spacious.
CARPET AND FLOORING
Unless your carpet appears old and worn, you should probably do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner.
Repair or replace broken floor tiles, but do not spend a lot of money on anything. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself. Your goal is to reduce the negative impressions upon those who may want to purchase your home.
WINDOWS AND DOORS
Check all of your windows to make sure they open easily. Make sure there are no cracked or broken windowpanes. If there are, replace them before you begin showing your home.
Do the same thing for the doors- make sure they open and close properly. Spray a little WD40 on the hinges if they creak. Make sure all doorknobs turn and work properly.
Make sure the lock works easily and the key fits properly. When a homebuyer comes to visit your home, the agent uses the key to unlock the door. If there is trouble working the lock, this sends a negative first impression to the prospective home buyers.
ODOR CONTROL
For those who smoke, you might want to minimize smoking indoors while trying to sell your home. Actually, it is best to smoke outside.
Apologies to pet owners, but pets come with odors. You may be used to them, but they are immediately noticeable to potential homebuyers.
For those with cats, be sure to change the litter box daily and use plenty of baking soda. For dog owners, keep the dog outside as much as possible, even those cute adorable little dogs. You might want to get into the habit of sprinkling carpet freshener on the carpet on a periodic basis.
THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE
A homebuyers first impression is based on his or her view of the house from the real estate agent's car. They call that first impression "curb appeal"
So take a walk across the street and take a good look at your house. Look at nearby houses, too, and see how yours compares. Then it may be time to go to work!
The big decision is whether to paint or not to paint. When you look at the house from across the street, does it look tired or faded? If so, then a paint job may be in order. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance of a house, adding dollars to offers from potential homebuyers!
When choosing a color, it should be something that fits well with the neighborhood, and of course something that fits the style of the house.
As for the roof, if you know it leaks, repair it. If you do not repair a leaky roof, you will have to disclose it and the buyer will want an entire new roof. If you know your roof leaks and you do not repair it or disclose it, look forward to hearing from lawyers at some point in the future.
LANDSCAPING
Is your landscaping at least average for the neighborhood? If not, buy a few bushes and plant them. Do not put in trees. Mature trees are expensive, and you will not get back your investment.
If you have an area for flowers, buy some mature colorful flowers and plant them. They add a splash of color, creating a favorable first impression.
Your lawn should be evenly cut, freshly edged and well watered. Always rake up loose leaves and grass cuttings.
The back yard should be kept tidy. If you have a pool or spa, keep it maintained and constantly cleaned. For those who have dogs, be sure to keep the area clear or "debris"
SHOWING THE HOUSE
Your house should always be available to show, even though it may occasionally be inconvenient for you. Let your listing agent put a lock box in a convenient place to make it easy for other agents to show your home.
Most agents will call and give you at least a couple of hours notice before showing your property. If you refuse a showing they will just skip your house. If they come another time, it may be with different buyers and you may have lost your chance to sell your home.
TRY NOT TO BE HOME
Homebuyers will feel like intruders if you are home when they visit, and they may not be as receptive toward viewing your home.
Visit the local coffee shop, take the kids to the park, go shopping.
LIGHTING
When you know someone is coming to tour your home, turn on all the indoor and outdoor lights- even during the day. At night, a lit house gives off a "homey" impression when viewed from the street. During the daytime, turning on lights prevents harsh shadows from sunlight and it brightens up any dim areas.
FRAGRANCES
Do not use scented sprays to prepare for visitors. It is too obvious and many people find the smells of those sprays offensive, not to mention that some may be allergic. If you want to leave a pleasant aroma in your house, have a potpourri pot or something natural. Or turn on a stove burner for a moment and put a drop or two of vanilla extract on it. It will make it smell like you have been cooking.
PET CONTROL
If you have pets, make sure the listing agent puts a notice with your listing. The last thing you want is to have your pet running out the front door and getting lost. If you know someone is coming, it is best to take them with you while homebuyers tour your home. If you cannot so that, it is best to keep dogs in a penned area in the back yard. Try to keep indoor cats in a specific room and put a sign on the door. Most of the time, an indoor cat will hide when buyers ccome to view a property, but they may panic and try to escape. All dogs are protective over their territory when you are gone. For their safety, the agents and the homebuyers keep the dogs with you or penned up in a safe place.
KITCHEN TRASH
Especially if your kitchen trash can does not have a lid, make sure you empty it every time someone comes to look at your home. The same goes for the bathroom trash as well.
KEEP THE HOUSE TIDY
Not everyone makes his or her bed every day, but when selling a home it is recommended that you develop the habit. Pick up papers, no empty glasses in the family room, keep everything freshly dusted and vacuumed. Try your best to have it look like a model home.
HOME SELLING ADVICE
Buyers pay a premium for a home that is in top-notch, move-in condition, so once you decide to sell, make sure your home is ready to be sold.
Buyers willl have a property inspection done before closing the sale. Often, this is when they will re-negotiate the price because of any problems that may turn up in the inspection.
Properties in prime condition are a pleasure for real estate agents to show, so they get shown more often. The more exposure a property gets, the better the chance of selling it quicker and for a higher price.
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