GETTING THE MOST OUT OF YOUR HOME WHEN SELLING
When preparing
your home for sale, certain preparations will yield a greater return than
others. By concentrating on the following areas, you can maximize the proceeds
from your sale.
1. Eliminate Clutter
- Take a cue from model homes. No mess, no clutter, no personal belongings. Only
a few well placed accessories leading you to believe that someone might live
there. Interesting thought: When you finally move out, you will have to remove
all of your belongings. Why not move some of them now, when their absence will
have the greatest impact on the sale (and value) of your home.
2. Get Organized - A surefire way to indicate that your house is too small,
is by having overstuffed closets and storage areas. By thinning out your closets
so that your clothes are loose and you can see the back wall, you will be
improving the overall impression of your home. Likewise, in the basement or
storage areas, if you have excessive boxes and other stored items, you are
telling your potential buyers that you don't have enough room. Renting a storage
space for these excessive items can easily pay for itself through the improved
impression the house will make.
3. Paint - Paint is by far the cheapest improvement you can make to your
home. With very little time and money, your house can look fresh, crisp, and
clean. Be sure to use light, neutral colors as they appeal to the greatest
number of potential buyers.
4. Flooring - If you have older carpet, especially in dated colors, you should
consider replacing it with light, neutral, and inexpensive carpeting. If you
have hardwood floors under your carpeting, you may be better off not replacing
the carpeting at all. If your floors are in better condition than your carpet,
our suggestion is to expose your hardwood floors and give them a good cleaning.
However, if your floors are not in good shape, we suggest replacing the
carpeting. Remember though, you don't know what your buyer's preference is. You
may find your newly replaced carpet on the curb the day after your buyers move
in.
5. Curb Appeal - Not all homes have it. Those that do however, usually
sell quickly. However, any home's curb appeal can be improved with a little
thought. For instance, painting the front door, adding shutters,
removing/replacing overgrown trees and shrubs, planting flowers, and raking up
lawn debris are just a few ideas.
6. Clean, Clean, Clean
- Although we clean all of our lives, when you clean your home in preparation of
its sale and keep it clean, you will be well rewarded. A clean, crisp home tells
buyers the home is well cared for.
7. Showing Your Home
- Once you've prepared your home for sale, don't forget the all important
presentation to complete the process. When a prospective buyer enters your home,
there are certain tried and true steps that you should take to ensure a positive
showing:
· Open all blinds and draperies
· Turn on all lights (including closets)
· Put away any daily routine items (mail, keys, etc.)
· Have easy listening music playing softly
· Light scented candles or potpouri warmer
· Light your fireplace if the season permits
CURB APPEAL
Real estate agents often talk about the importance of curb appeal—that
subjective, intangible quality that has buyers thinking emotionally rather than
logically. We've all experienced it: you know, that singular moment when you
drive up to a home and it's love at first sight. Something about it has your
heart beating just a little bit faster. Perhaps it's the way the home sits on
the property, or the mix of clapboard and fieldstone, the expanse of grass
carpeting, the stately columns, the boisterous symphony of greenery and
brilliantly colored flowers. Something calls to you and you respond, "Yes. This
is it. I don't care what the inside looks like. I want it." That's curb appeal.
Curb appeal extends to neighborhoods as well. Meticulously maintained homes in
the estate section of town enjoy solid curb appeal whereas poorly kept
neighborhoods do not. Interestingly, even your neighbor's state of curb appeal
can positively or negatively affect your home's. So how can you tell where your
home registers on the curb appeal scale? One way to find out is to take pictures
of your property from various angles. Show them to friends, family, colleagues,
anyone known for providing painfully objective feedback. Find out what's
appealing about the home and grounds, and what needs improvement. Take the
photos to a nursery for a professional landscaper's opinion. Even more
important, consult your real estate agent. A local real estate professional has
experience selling homes in your area and can be a great resource. Ask the agent
to walk around the property with you and view it from across the street. Develop
a "to do" list to bring your home up to show condition, then brainstorm easy,
cost-effective solutions.
Surprisingly, even small enhancements can make a big difference. Building on
your home's curb appeal might be as easy as replacing a torn screen and planting
a few flowers near the front door.
Here are some ideas to get you going. Paint and polish. A fresh coat of paint
breathes new life into a tired-looking home. If your home looks dull or suffers
from pealing, cracked or chipped paint, a paint job is a great investment. Real
estate agents often suggest using neutral colors such as white, off-white or
gray. A point of interest: According to a survey by the National Association of
REALTORS, white homes sell faster than others. Whether or not you paint, you'll
want to polish the door-knocker and mail slot on the front door, as well as any
light fixtures by the entry.
Go over the grounds. Mow and edge the grass and trim the trees and bushes. Also,
clear away dead leaves and flowers, and mulch and weed the beds. Check to see
that tree branches are not touching the home's roof or outer walls. You can
spruce up the property by hanging flower baskets and placing planters of flowers
in strategic spots.
Make needed repairs. Work your way through your "to do" list. In addition, see
if anything is unhinged, loose or just an eyesore. Fix everything including
broken fencing, windows and screens. Try the doorbell. Check stairs and
railings. Test doors for squeaks and rusted hinges. Don't forget to take a
critical look at the property at night. Make sure the lights work, and replace
dim and burned-out bulbs.
De-clutter. Now is the time to have a garage sale, not when you're about to
move. Throw out everything you can. Organize the garage and any out buildings.
Put away lawn and garden equipment and tools. Tidy up the deck, patio and back
yard. Clean up the barbecue area. Eliminate any "evidence" of pets, and restrict
animals to the back yard when showing the home. Move extra vehicles from the
view of passersby.
Clean. You want buyers to know the home has been well maintained. To make a
bright impression, clean the windows, inside and out, wash down the walks and
driveway, and hose down the siding. Clean outdoor furniture and cushions. Check
for oil spots on cement surfaces, especially the garage floor.
Remember, a sale can be made or lost as a direct result of your home's curb
appeal. So exert a little elbow grease now and you'll captivate buyers at the
curb. It's a sure way to sell your home for top dollar in the shortest amount of
time.