Preparing Your Home to Sell
YOU NEVER GET A SECOND CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION!
In any discussion of how best to prepare your home for sale, it is important to keep in mind that everything that you do in preparation should be to make the home more attractive in the eyes of the potential buyer. A home that is clean and fresh and uncluttered will help the buyer picture himself in your home and will definitely contribute to a higher sales price. Often a small investment in time and money will yield a much higher return. Gloria Singer is an expert at providing the guidance that you will need in deciding what repairs should be done in preparation of putting your home on the market, and will guide you on how the home should appear for every showing. We like to call this "merchandising"; it is synonymous to a store display which draws the customer in and encourages him to make his "purchase".
Home Merchandising Tips - Sell Your Home for the Highest Possible Price!!!
Think of your home as a product. You need to "package" it attractively to create a demand for it. Here are some fast, inexpensive changes that should make your home stand out among similarly-priced homes in your area:
It begins with the exterior! This is the first impression that potential buyers have of your home.
- Yard: Keep your lawn neat and well trimmed, with well-proportioned shrubs. Consider replanting flowers or creating a flowerbed to enhance the appearance of your yard.
- The Front Door: Make sure your door is tightly on its hinges! Furthermore, the door should be neat and clean. Paint it if it needs it. If the door is in poor shape, consider replacing it. Consider adding an inviting "welcome mat".
- Home Exterior: Check for flat-fitting roof shingles, straight lines on gutters, shutters, windows, and siding; solid caulking around roofs and seams. Apply fresh paint where it needs it. Also, make sure the windows are crystal clear; potential buyers often peer through the windows.
The Interior
- Lights: During the evening, or whenever you have potential buyers in the home, make sure ALL of the lights are on. This makes rooms look more inviting and spacious. Also, make sure curtains are always up to let as much sunlight in as possible.
- Smell: We recommend using a vanilla air freshener that applies directly to your air filter. This gives your home that "new model home" aroma.
- Remove Excess Furniture: Remove as much furniture as possible. This can make your rooms look dramatically larger.
- The Living Room: Strive for lived-in, cozy feeling. Discard worn, chipped, frayed furniture. Add lamps if it is dark. Open curtains. Set out fresh flowers.
- The Kitchen: Many buyers judge the house keeping by the oven and stove. Appliances should be spotless and everything should work perfectly. Replace or repair anything that sticks, squeaks or drips. Clear clutter from countertops.
- The Master Bedroom: This is the second-most appealing room to a buyer (after the kitchen). Remove excess furniture to make it appear larger. Show the true size of the closets by removing or packing items that can be stored elsewhere.
- Bathrooms: Make sure bathrooms are always neat and clean. Remove clutter from sink countertops. Make sure showers are free of scum and tile grout in good shape. Most buyers pay close attention to this!
When You Let Potential Buyers In The Door:
Make sure that the exterior and interior are both in order! Furthermore, appeal to the potential buyers' senses: make sure that the lights are on, the home has a vanilla aroma, and perhaps soft classical or jazz music playing on the stereo.
As your real estate expert, I wrote this page to help educate you and help maximize the marketability of your home. These ideas are based on my collective experience. I hope you found them to be valuable, and if there is ever any way I can be of service to you or anyone you know, please don't hesitate to contact us.