Tip #1 ~ Welcome Buyers Before They Step Inside
Keep your yard looking nice and well kept. Pay special attention to the front walk. It should look cheery, tidy, and most importantly, welcoming! If your front walk seems dull or uninviting, spruce it up with some inexpensive, colorful potted flowers placed in window boxes or tasteful pots. Take time to clean front windows. Clean, repaint or refinish the entry door and paint any peeling trim. Make sure to also replace any rusted fixtures. Be diligent to keep the walkway and porch swept and clean from any debris. Studies have shown that landscaping increases the value of a home, so if you have not landscaped, it is important to invest in a couple shrubs, flowers, or trees. It will be well worth it when you sell your home. The front yard and front walk are the first impression a buyer gets of your home- so make sure it is a good one.
Tip #2 ~ Less is More
De-clutter. To many, this is a very scary word (myself included!), but by de-cluttering your house, you give buyers that oh-so-important feeling that the house is ready to move in to. Have you ever noticed that peaceful feeling you get when walking through a model home? You want buyers walking through your home to get that same feeling. Remove anything extra. Your house may not be very cluttered in the traditional sense of the word, but try to remove absolutely anything that is unnecessary. A general rule of thumb is to have only a couple items per surface. Think of this as a way to get a jump-start on packing for your move. Your agent can help you decide what items should go- this may include some of the following:
- Any extra furniture that may seem crowded or unnecessary.
- Overflowing magazine racks.
- Any large collections on display. Condense to a couple favorites.
- Stacked DVDs, CDs, etc.
- Extra blankets or pillows.
- Everything on the bathroom counter besides soap.
- Any extra items in closets or storage areas. This will make the areas look larger and more appealing to buyers.
Remove most personal photos and personal items. Keeping a couple framed pictures out is OK, but buyers shouldn’t know your life story after a couple minutes looking on your dresser. The goal here is to remove yourself from the house as much as possible. This makes it easier for buyers to envision themselves living there and creating their own memories. Also, having all your personal items out gives buyers an excuse to focus more on your belongings and less on how much they love the house.
Tip #4 ~ Smelly Cat, Smelly Cat (and Smelly Smoke Too)
Smells trigger instant and strong responses and are difficult to change. You want a buyer’s first response to your house to be one of pleasure, not repulsion. If you have pets, it is absolutely essential that your house not smell like them. While selling your home, be diligent about cleaning litter boxes and keeping pet areas clean. Also, if you smoke, it is important that a buyer not know this by walking through your house. To rid your house of pet and smoke odors, open your windows periodically to air out the house. Try using appropriate amounts or air freshener, potpourri or scented candles. Spraying Febreze on upholstery and drapes may help pull smells out as well.
Tip #5 ~ A Clean House is a Sold House
Keep your house clean. This may seem obvious, but may not be easy. If you are not a master housecleaner, you may want o consider hiring a maid while your home is on the market. An initial deep cleaning and weekly or bi-weekly follow-up cleanings should keep your house looking tidy and clean. Try to also straighten and clean out any storage areas like closets. These are important to many buyers, so you want them to look as presentable as possible.
Tip #6 ~ No One Wants a $40 Fast Food Burger
Price your house accordingly. Pricing homes is just like pricing anything else. Just because you really want to sell you home for a certain price, doesn’t mean it necessarily will. Just because McDonalds really wants to sell their burgers for $40, it doesn’t mean anyone will buy them. A lot of time and money is spent determining exactly what the market will bear. Work with a trustworthy and knowledgeable agent to make sure that you get the price you deserve without pricing yourself out of the market.
