You want to WHAT? LIST your house?
Sorry we only SELL houses!
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PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE
These are some small details that will not cost you a lot of money, but can make the difference enticing a buyer to choose your home over the competition. A minor makeover can improve the home's general "WOW" factor, giving it the competitive edge in today's market and allow you to sell faster, and maybe for more money.
First Impressions Are Everything
Sweep, clean and scrub up your front entrance.
Scrub down your front door, and either paint it or replace it, if it looks worn. They will spend more time here than any other place just waiting for the agent to unlock the door.
Consider pet or food smells in your home and get RID of them. Get a friend that will tell you the truth that your house STINKS. First impressions.
Start With The Outside
Give the house a fresh coat of paint, add shiny hardware to the front door and plant a few flowers to send a subliminal message the house is loved and well cared for. Think fresh, neat and clean.
Important Updates
Replace faded, peeling or torn wallpaper, in fact eliminate as much wallpaper as you can. We are not trying to appeal to the small group of buyers that may like it, we are trying to appeal to everyone. NO ONE LIKES WALL PAPER. NO ONE!
Repair, replace or paint worn woodwork.
Paint a neutral color over walls that look old or were previously painted too boldly.
Paint and Carpet is the biggest bang for your buck if you are on a budget and had to pick some updates. Do not worry about picking the wrong color or style, we will not let you pick, we will.
If you are not on a budget, kitchens and baths sell homes, PERIOD!
Let the Light Shine, It's Showtime
A dark home just isn't as inviting, so open the curtains and blinds, or remove them completely. Light, bright rooms give the impression this is a happy place and everyone wants to move into a happy place.
Turn on all lights during evening showings.
Replace any steamed up double pane windows or old-looking tinted windows. If your windows always look foggy, the seal is broken and needs to be replaced.
Invest in Eco-Friendly, but bright lights.
Simple Repairs CAN Make a Difference
When a buyer sees things that need fixing, they see dollar signs, and begin to wonder what else might need work that they can't see. Be sure to repair any loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches and other minor flaws. These defects subtract from the value of the home and buyers always exaggerate the real costs to make these repairs. It will be far less costly to do them before the buyer flags the repairs and low balls your house.
Clear the Clutter
Remove all unnecessary articles from your closets and garage. Spacious rooms and large storage spaces are a great selling feature. You should see the floor in a closet.
Get rid of excessive family pictures, trophies, and knickknacks. Closets and cabinets should be no more than 30% full.
Consider having a garage sale to dispose of unwanted items. Call Teen Challenge or Goodwill.
Look into renting storage for larger items or boxes of things you aren't ready to part with but don't use every day. Include your favorite trinkets and excess ornaments. They won't have the same sentimental value to potential buyers and only distract from your home.
Look around your home to determine where you can reduce a cluttered appearance.
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Safety First
Keep stairways and hallways clear.
Don't overload electrical outlets.
Clean It Until It Shines
Clean windows and appliances.
Steam clean or replace carpets.
Glue back any peeling wallpaper or better yet get rid of it.
Cleaning is cheap to do and brings a HUGE return on your investment. Never has a buyer ever not make an offer because a house was too clean.
Nice Bathrooms Sell Homes
Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. Get that black nasty filth removed, I mean really.
Clear up any mildew stains.
Display fresh, clean towels and make the room attractive. Buy new ones at the dollar store for display if needed.
Spray a light fragrance and make the room pleasant smelling.
Arrange Bedrooms Neatly
Remove excess furniture.
Make the beds with clean, attractive bedspreads. Make the beds, Make the beds, Make the beds!
Consider laundering the curtains.
Don't Cause Controversy
Not everyone shares your sense of humor or political views. Remove any signs, posters or art that might be controversial or offensive to prospective buyers. We know you are right and it is your house, but it is going to stay in your house if you do not start thinking like a retailer.
Neutralize bold and trendy wall colors.
Make it Obvious
A bedroom should look like a bedroom, not an office, hobby center or gym.
Bedrooms and Kitchens are Difficult To Stage, But Make The Effort
Clear everything off counter's and nightstand's, roll up the rugs and hide the laundry hamper.
Buff the cabinets and clean under the sinks.
Invest in pristine white bed linens and towels
Organize the Utility Room and Garage
Hang up the bicycles, and roll up the hose..
Renting a storage locker is worth the cost if it helps you sell faster for a higher price.
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Systems in Your Home
If your hot water heater, air conditioner, furnace and electrical systems are not new, understand that your home's value will be reduced because of it. Anything past 7-8 years will be a negative, for a buyer because those items will likely need to be replaced prior to them being able to sell. This can be a significant cost and will put off many buyers The price should reflect your use of these items and you should also be aware that buyers will be planning on paying for these items to be replaced at some point during their time owning the home.
RULES OF SHOWINGS
Now that your home has been visually staged, here are some well-tested rules geared toward helping your home to show easily and effectively:
Rule #1: Three's a Crowd
Try to be somewhere other than home during showings. The goal is to have the buyer feel relaxed, and not rushed, when viewing your home. If you are present, they may not be comfortable looking at the details or asking questions. Further, it is the Realtor who knows what the buyer is looking for. They are better able to emphasize those key points if you aren't tagging along. Homes where owners will not leave take 4 to 5 times longer to sell or they never do. If you will not leave your house when it is being shown, please do not call us, we have serious clients to help.
Rule #2: Keep it Down
Having easy-listening or classical music playing in the background adds to the ambiance of your home, but be sure to keep the volume low so that the Realtor and buyer can talk easily.
Rule #3: No Pets Allowed
Keep all pets, pet beds, litter boxes and feeding dishes out of the way, move them to the utility room. Deodorize thoroughly.