GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A HOME TO SELL

  The age-old observation that "you never get a second chance to make a first impression” certainly applies when it comes to attracting buyers to your home!

Making a good first impression can mean the difference between receiving serious offers for your home or being subjected to months of the “just looking” types who have no intention of making an offer. There are six steps savvy homeowners know make a great first impression:

 1.      Focus on curb appeal. When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern should be the home’s exterior. Since the outside of the house is the first thing a potential buyer sees, it’s a great source for a positive first impression! If your home has a polished exterior appearance it will attract more buyers, sell faster and generate more revenue. Here are some tips to help you create a favorable buzz:

• Keep the grass well watered, cut and edged. Trim the bushes, prune the trees and eliminate the weeds. Season permitting, plant blooming flowers. During the winter, keep the walkway clear of snow and ice. Store toys, bicycles, roller-skates and gardening equipment out of sight and store RVs and other nonessential motor vehicles elsewhere. If necessary, put a fresh coat of paint on the exterior trim and front door. Sweep the porch and front walkway to ensure the area has a “Welcome” feeling and urn on exterior lights.

• If possible, also attend to the more in-depth exterior maintenance. Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling. Inspect the doors and windows for peeling paint. Repair loose or damaged roof shingles, siding and caulking. Consider repainting the front exterior portion of the home. Clean and align the gutters.

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2.      Clear out the clutter. Realtors caution that buyers won't purchase a home they can't see. If your home has too much furniture, overflowing closets, crowded countertops or lots of family photos and collectibles on display, potential buyers might miss important features. Buyers might also feel overwhelmed by your stuff and confused about how they’ll bring their own style to the home. Concentrate on creating a sleeker, more spacious look by tending to a few simple tasks:

• Remove all nonessential items and excessive decoration from the countertops, tabletops, bureaus and desks. To make secondary areas seem more spacious, also clear clutter from the closets, attic, garage and basement. Throughout the home, remove extra and oversized furniture and eliminate walkway barriers. This is a great time to hold a garage sale! If additional storage space is needed, rent a storage unit. After you remove the clutter, your home will need a thorough cleaning. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service.

3.      Use your nose. Many people are oblivious to scents, but no seller wants to take the chance of losing a buyer who is sensitive to offensive odors. To ensure your home smells fresh and clean, consider doing the following:

• Bathe household pets with fresh smelling shampoo and change the cat litter frequently. Shampoo the carpets, wash the throw rugs and dry clean the drapes. Empty the trashcans, and recycling bins. If possible, avoid smoking in your home or at least limit it to one room and keep the door closed. Place open boxes of baking soda in smell-prone areas, and refrain from cooking fish or strong-smelling foods. Introduce pleasing smells by placing flowers or potpourri in your home and using air fresheners. Baking a fragrant treat before showings provides a rich, pleasant aroma.

4.       Make all necessary repairs. Buyers expect everything in their new home to operate safely and properly. Consequently, assume that potential buyers will notice, and even magnify, minor maintenance problems that have been left undone. They may then possibly question whether or not the home has been well maintained. To prevent minor maintenance issues from becoming obstacles, follow these guidelines:

• Fix leaky faucets and showerheads. Replace burned-out light bulbs and broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and woodwork. Check for cracks, leaks and dampness in the attic and basement. Repair and repaint damaged plaster, wallboard, wallpaper, paint and tiles. Inspect and repair plumbing, heating, cooling and alarm systems.

 5.      Introduce lifestyle accessories that make the interior of your home as attractive and inviting as possible. Realtors often inform sellers that part of successfully marketing a home is creating a warm, comfortable feeling potential buyers could imagine coming home to. The suggestions below will help you improve the ambiance of your home.

•       Set the dining table with your best dishes. Place an arrangement of either real or artificial flowers or plants in the kitchen and bathrooms. Display new hand towels and decorative soaps in the bathrooms. Make sure all the beds are made with presentable coverings. Put logs in the fireplace. In general, use your imagination to create home, sweet home!

 6.     Get a buyer's-eye view. With a friend of family member, arrive and walk through your home as if you've never seen it before. What do you notice that appears undone? How do you feel about what you see? Does the home seem inviting? Well-maintained? Would you want to buy this home? Evaluate your answers and determine what is yet to be completed. Work towards the final goal of giving yourself an enthusiastic response, “Yes, I’d love to buy this home!”

 How much will this work cost?

In doing the above activities to prepare your home for the market, spend as little money as possible to get the job done. Although replacing the roof instead of repairing loose shingles might impress buyers, they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. In other words, there is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive "touch-ups" to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like having the front yard professionally landscaped. Always keep in mind that the intent should be to add just enough sparkle and polish to bring out your home’s natural selling points. 

 If you need help or have questions specific to your individual needs, don’t hesitate to ask me!

Email Bryan for more assistance at: bryanmeyers1@yahoo.com