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Before you think of putting your home on the market, call your Realtor and ask for a brutally honest evaluation of what ought to be done around your house to prepare it for showing.
Here are a some tips to help you get your home in tip-top selling shape:
Start with the exterior. AN inviting exterior insures inspection of the interior. Keep your lawn trimmed and edged, flowerbeds neat, and the yard free and clear of refuse.
Remove the clutter. Visually simplify each room. Let the buyer imagine their decor in your home. You limit your market if your home is too strongly decorated. Clothes properly hung, shoes, hats and other articles neatly placed, will make your closets appear more roomy.
Check your home for obvious issues like water spots on the ceiling and get them fixed. They will focus purchasers or inspectors on a problem that may no longer exist.
Repair everything that needs to be repaired. Try to paint any major areas to brighten your home. Remember that most buyers will want to see your home during the day and light is an issue. Fix loose doorknobs, sticking drawers and warped cabinet doors. If the home needs too much work, most buyers will pass it by.
Make sure that all your appliances are in good working order. Most purchase offers will insist that all appliances be in good working order. A four-burner stove must have four burners that work. Keep the oven clean - it often gets looked at.
Clean the house and keep it that way. Wash all windows inside and out. Make it sparkle. Most agents and buyers will move the bath curtain to see whether you have mildew on your bathtub. Bright and clean bathrooms sell many homes.
Do everything to make your house inviting. Check your lighting. Make sure all your light bulbs working and make sure their levels set higher than normal. Remember, you are not preparing for a romantic evening but a showing. Also turn on lights in the daytime for rooms that are not so bright.
Eliminate pet odors. Clean the litter box everyday and make sure that there are no surprises in the backyard for anyone to step in. If possible, remove all pets while the home is shown. People will linger in a fresh, pleasant smelling home. Stale air, or bad odors will turn them off.
You may want to have your house pre-inspected. This will reveal any hidden defects that can be corrected up front.
Have the air conditioner serviced and a new filter installed. It will bring down the dust and show you as a owner that performs general maintenance on a regular basis. Clean the air handler and the water heater.
Go through the whole house and search for cobwebs. Sweep down the walls and the high ceilings and corners for spider webs. Be sure to check the outside as well.
Make sure that all hallways are well lit and very easy to navigate. You may walk those halls in the dark, don't expect buyers and their agents to.
Don't cover your home with post-it notes. All issues should be dealt with and self-evident. If you have to cover your home with post-it notes to point out its advantages, you are not ready to bring your home to the market.
If all these issues can be addressed, you have a home that will bring you top dollar in today's market. It will be easier to sell because you will have removed many of the potential concerns of the buyer. |
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