-Preparing your home…

Selling your home – where do you begin?

First Impressions last !!

Remember: you never get a second chance at a first impression …

Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about its most appealing features? Now that you’re selling your home, you’ll need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again.

A spruced up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well-cared for. Because buyers know they’ll encounter fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time selling it when it’s on the market.

A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to live there.

With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.

Plan Ahead

Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook for your selling project, and as you stroll through your yard, make a list of what needs to be done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go far toward attracting serious buyers. But remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers.

Here are ideas for increasing your home’s appeal in order to sell it quickly at the best price. You don’t need to implement all these ideas, but consider doing what you can. Obviously the price range of the property will also determine how much can be done without overdoing it on the cost side:

INTERIOR:

Clean Everything

Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out.

Cut the Clutter

People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, and airy.

It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Make your garage as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Paint

A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that appeal to the most people, such as beige or white.

Carpets

Check the condition. If it’s very worn, consider replacing it. If you don’t replace it, make sure they are clean.

Repairs and Renovations

It’s best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you’re unlikely to recoup those costs from your selling price. Make minor repairs to items such as rotten fascia boards, leaky taps, broken gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken windows.

Leaks and Moisture

Water stains on ceilings alert buyers to potential problems. Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what repairs were made.

EXTERIOR:

Curb Appeal

The “Wow” factor — that first visual, high-impact impression your home makes on potential buyers — can turn a looker into a buyer. To determine your property’s curb appeal, drive through your neighborhood and note other properties; then approach your own house as if you were a potential buyer. How does it look? Does it “wow” you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers? Note what needs improving, such as trimming trees, planting shrubs, or painting gutters. Little things convey that you’ve cared for your home, and this is your opportunity to sell that important message to buyers. To get them through your door, do what you can to make your property look like someone’s dream home.

Paint

If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t remember the last time you painted it, your house needs some attention. A newly painted exterior will help sell your house faster. And whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.

In the Garden

Grab people’s attention by enhancing your garden and landscaping. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.

• Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees.
• Keep your lawn looking neat and green.
• Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
• Weed your gardens.
• Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair and paint fences.

The Front Door

An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and says, “Welcome,” so highlight this area of your house.

Keep yourself organized with the following checklist.

Clean and Maintain

• Windows, sills
• Walls and floor
• Tiles
• Ceilings
• Cupboards and drawers
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• Light fixtures
• Ceiling fans
• Carpet and rugs
• Mirrors
• Garage
• Laundry room
• Garden
• Gutters
• Dust furniture
• Remove clutter
• Pack personal items

Possible Repairs

• Leaky taps and plumbing
• Gutters
• Loose doorknobs
• Broken windows
• Broken Electrical fixtures
• Water stain damage
• Damaged walls and ceilings
• Worn carpets and rugs

Possible Improvements

• Stain or paint deck
• Roll up garden hose
• Paint exterior
• Prune bushes and hedges
• Trim trees
• Mow lawn
• Weed gardens
• Stack firewood
• Clean out birdbaths
• Repair and paint fences
• Make sure doors close properly
• Enhance entryway and front door

If you have any property related questions, or if you are considering selling your property, please Contact Us at any time…