As Good As SOLD

Your Home: Does it make a good first impression?

December 30th, 2006

There are certain things you can do to make your home more appealing to potential purchasers. These minor expenditures take only a small amount of time and effort, and will pay you dividends when you sell in today’s highly competitive market. If you are considering readying your home for sale, here are a few tips:

Curb Appeal
Most motivated buyers will make a decision quickly. If your home doesn’t look good from the street, they may not even stop. Your trees, shrubs and lawn should always be in tip-top shape. Good landscaping is expected in this town, and will set the mood for purchasers before they get out of their car.

Overall Outside Appearance
Take a critical look at the exterior of your home - the purchasers certainly will. If it looks weathered or needs repair, take care of it. Don’t let the buyers be turned off by the outside before they can be turned on by the inside.

Paint the Front Door
Then brighten up the interior with a new coat of flat latex paint. Use an enamel for places that get a lot of wear such as the entry, bathroom and kitchen. These rooms warrant special attention and your efforts here will be rewarded.

Fix the Drips
Little things like a dripping tap can cause a buyer to worry about more serious problems. The concern is likely groundless, but once the impression is made the damage is done. Fix the little problems before they cost you a sale - squeaking doors, curling wallpaper, cracked glass and the like. You want the buyer to say: “Looks like an easy place to take care of - there’s nothing we have to do!”

Hide things that look like work
Put away - or at least neatly arrange - lawnmowers, hoses, vacuum cleaners, etc. and accent everything that looks like fun.

Harmonize the Elements
Dining room table set, music playing softly, drapes open, lights on. Lay the fireplace. An aroma of cinnamon or freshly baked bread adds ambiance - or try a drop of vanilla on a cold light bulb. If you smoke, an application of baking soda left on your carpets overnight and then vacuumed up is helpful. Remove anything of a political or religious nature that is in any way extreme.

De-clutter and clean
Remove unneeded items - they make your home look small. Sell, store or give them away. And clean..clean..clean! Put sparkle in; take silver out.

“Out, damned spot! Out, I say!”
Never stay in your home when buyers are passing judgment on it - please! Nothing personal, mind you - but they feel uncomfortable when you are around, and may not stay long enough for the mood to take. Like Dr. Seuss’ Marvin K. Mooney, Go, Go, Go - and take Rover with you. You’ll both enjoy the outing, and it’s much more likely I’ll be able to elicit a “Gee, it feels good here - like home!” kind of feeling from potential purchasers of your home. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. If you would like the benefit of a short video with further thoughts on how your home can make a good impression, just call or write and I’ll be happy to oblige without obligation.

Entry Filed under: Real Estate Matters, Selling a home