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20
Tips on Selling Your Home Faster
- Curb Appeal
Look at your home as the prospective buyer first views it.
The overall view of your home from the street should be neat and
clean.
- Trees and Shrubs
Trees and shrubbery in the front yard should be neatly
trimmed (cut low tree limbs) so that your home can be easily seen.
Shrubs should be cut to varying heights for good landscape
appearance. Shrubs in front of windows should not be higher than
the bottom of the window.
- Lawn Appearance
The front lawn should be neatly trimmed in the spring and
summer. Proper lawn fertilizer should be utilized to maintain a
rich green color.
- Shrubbery Beds
Shrubbery beds should have a fresh layer of bark and all
weeds, grass, etc. should be removed.
- Flowering Plants
A flowering, potted plant should be placed on each side of
the front entrance to your home. For best results, a continuously flowering plant is recommended. Keep old or dead flowers
removed.
- Front Door Entrance
Look at the entrance way as a prospective buyer will see it
for the first time. Does it need cleaning, caulking, staining,
painting or any other maintenance? Make sure the welcome mat is in
good condition and has a nice appearance. Make sure that any brass
plates and door knobs are bright and clean.
- Entrance Foyer
First impressions are still being made as the prospect
enters the first room of your home. Therefore, the entrance foyer or entry
room should feel comfortable and be cheerfully decorated.
- Lighting
From the time the prospect enters your home, adequate
lighting is essential. All shades and draperies should remain open
to allow as much natural light as possible. Make sure that all
primary light fixtures are on when the prospect enters the
home.
- Light Fixtures
Dirty or dusty light fixtures are always obvious to the new
viewer. Make sure that all light fixtures are clean and free of
dust and bugs.
- Furniture
Too much furniture will make rooms appear smaller. Make
sure that all excess furniture is temporarily in the attic
storage. Any wood furniture should be brightened with appropriate
furniture polish.
- Dust
Dust and dirt particles often go unnoticed in certain areas
of your home. Chair rails, baseboards, glass doors and shelves,
window and door facings and panels and tops of draperies are areas
that should be cleaned.
- Kitchen
The kitchen is always given special scrutiny. Because of
cooking and other daily use, kitchen cabinets are often covered
with an oil and dust film. The cabinets must be cleaned first and
treated with a furniture polish where appropriate. Make every
effort to keep the kitchen area neat and clean including the
exterior and interior of appliances.
- Household Odors
Prospective buyers normally prefer a home with no odors.
Smells of cigarette smoke, highly seasoned foods, household pets,
mold and mildew will turn many purchasers away. Efforts should be
made to neutralize these odors.
- Carpet
Carpeting does not have to be new, but it must have a clean
appearance. Stained or dirty carpets need to be cleaned.
- Closets
Prospects are very interested in closet space. Neat and
tidy closets that are free of clutter make the closet appear
roomier.
- Walls
Make sure the painted walls are bright and clean. Wall
marks and fingerprints need to be removed. Repainting should be a
last resort. If the need for repainting is obvious, it should be
done.
- Excess Wall Pictures
Sellers should be careful not to display excessive wall
pictures. Excessive wall coverings tend to make rooms appear
smaller and more cluttered. This also applies to picture posters
that are commonly found in children's playrooms and bedrooms. All
remaining pictures should be kept straight.
- Household Pets
If possible, during showings, household pets and their
beds, litter boxes and food dishes should be removed from the
living areas of your home. While most buyers like animals, they
have very specific ideas about what pets are acceptable and where
they should be kept.
- Ceramic Tile
Ceramic tile in and around the bathroom, tubs, showers and
floors often become stained and/or covered with mildew.
Appropriate bleach and mildew products must be used to rid the
bathroom of these problem areas. Most buyers associate cleanness
with the bright, clean appearance of the bathroom.
- Garage
Clear the garage of excess items and put it in a clean and
orderly condition.
If your home requires most of these 20 items, it will take two
to four days of hard work.
Outside of major repairs such as painting, none of the items
mentioned are expensive. However, these tips have proven to be the
seller's key to obtaining the best price in a shorter selling period.
These tips do not overcome certain selling factors such as overpriced
listings, rundown properties, undesirable locations or out-dated
decor. However, where location, price, property conditions and decor
are appropriate, these selling tips will make the difference ... the
choice is up to the seller.
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