Getting top dollar for your house begins with understanding how to see your house through the eyes of a buyer. To be a successful seller you must have your house looking its best!
PRE-SALE PREPARATION
The moment you decide to sell your property the “home” you love so dearly becomes a “house”. This shift in vocabulary is the start of the process of “letting go”. It is the emotional detachment all sellers eventually experience. Home is where the heart is. A House, on the other hand, is a commodity to be sold on the open market. Keep in mind…….You are getting ready to sell a HOUSE.
If you make the right improvements when preparing your house to sell you increase the odds of selling it quickly for top dollar. Conversely, if you do nothing or make the wrong changes to your property you prolong the sale and reduce the ultimate sales price.
Exterior: Curb appeal is your first chance to entice buyers. Focusing your efforts on the front of the house will assist in grabbing buyers’ attention. It’s true that first impressions are lasting, so be sure that your house creates a strong first impression.
Studies show that over 85% of today’s buyers use online tools to begin their home search before even contacting a Buyers’ Agent. With the multitude of mapping software available, they can easily spend a weekend narrowing down their choices. Your home needs to make a good impression from the moment these buyers see it from the street if you want to have a chance of them seeing the upgraded features inside.
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Get into your car and drive away from your home. Drive towards your home the way a potential buyer would. Notice your first impressions of your home? Is the landscaping well groomed? How about the driveway and curb? Can you easily see the architecture of the home or is it blocked by trees and bushes. Is the mail box in good condition or rusty and falling over? Notice your roof – Is it in good condition? Make a list of items that need attention.
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Paint your front door. Polish your door and entry hardware. Add fresh plants or flowers (in season) and replace the welcome mat. (Buyers will spend several minutes here waiting for the agent to open the lock box so it needs to look perfectly maintained).
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Make sure your doorbell is functional.
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Wash or thoroughly clean wood, aluminum and vinyl sided homes. (Pressure washing can remove dirt, grime, peeling paint, and mildew.)
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Rake leaves, trim shrubbery and trees, cut the lawn, and plant a few new, fresh flowers. Put down fresh mulch or peat moss around shrubs and flower beds.
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Sweep and hose off the walkways and driveways. (Pressure wash if necessary.)
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Clean the gutters and extend downspouts away from the foundation.
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Organize the garage. Get rid of clutter by either putting it in boxes, or pack ahead of time and rent a storage locker for your garage belongings.
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Check the locks of your home – both entry, back entry, and garage. Locks can give a first impression of a home that’s needing maintenance. And they’re often the first thing a buyer sees. A small dab of graphite will make them work like new.
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Clean oil stains from your driveway and garage. Clean rust stains beneath rails with a commercial product.
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Clean up any litter, toys, yard tools or newspapers in the yard or walkways. Remove any leaves in the yard or walkways.
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Touch-up the paint on the exterior of the home if necessary. In some cases it pays to repaint the entire exterior if it hasn’t received a coat of paint in years. Hardwood trim on the exterior of the home can make or break its appearance. Make sure it looks clean.
EXTERIORS ATTRACT, BUT INTERIORS SELL: Curb appeal draws buyers into your house, but appealing, well cared for interiors make the sale!
Interior: Your house may fulfill all the criteria potential buyers have in terms of location, price, style and amenities but it still needs to make an emotional connection. Inspire buyers by creating scenarios where they can picture themselves. To do so, create a neutral slate by using subtle colors in your entryway, living room, family room & dining room. Eliminate excess personal memorabilia and engage all of the senses with soft music and fresh scents. Just remember – There is no such thing as “too clean” or “too well maintained” you’re your home is on the market.
Making minor cosmetic improvements can have a major impact on your final sales price. We often overlook things we see every day which are extremely obvious to a visitor. Make an effort to see your home as a buyer will. Most buyers want a clean, “move in ready” home and will make MAJOR reductions in their offer price if they feel that repairs or updates are required. Pay attention to deferred maintenance issues that could give the buyer and excuse to “reduce the price”. Find it and repair it before you put it on the market.
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The entry way sets first impressions. So make sure it’s in great condition with fresh paint and clean floors.
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Clean out all unnecessary clutter and up to 1/3 of all furniture. (We are selling square footage so let’s flaunt what you have!) You want your home to look uncluttered and the rooms to feel open and bright. The average home has too much furniture for showing, and you’re going to be moving soon, so you might as well get a head start by packing away furniture and any other items you won’t be needing before your move.
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Put away nick-knacks and items that make the home look overly personal. You don’t want a buyer feeling that they would never fit in the home because it’s got so many of your personality in it. Put away clutter, photos and other objects that will distract buyers. (We want them looking at all that your home has to offer, not your personal items.
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Sleek and spacious sells – consider renting a storage unit for those extra furnishings, boxes and clutter.
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Do a thorough interior maintenance review: Deferred maintenance will cost you money! Oil squeaky doors, tighten doorknobs, replace burned-out lights, clean and repair ALL windows, and repair leaking faucets and toilets. Look for chipped paint and cracked plaster or drywall that needs repairing.
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Locate ceiling stains and the cause of the leak. (Repair the leak and any visible damage)
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It’s a good idea to have all windows professionally washed, and clean all window blinds, shades and shutters.
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Replace all burned-out light bulbs and clean lighting fixtures. (Replace cold white or blue light bulbs with warmer styles)
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Give your home a spacious look. If you’ve ever toured a model home, you’ve noticed that the home is spacious and bright. Make your home look the same by: 1) clear out stairs and halls of clutter and excess furniture, 2) clear counters in the kitchen and bathrooms, and 3) Make closets and storage areas neat and tidy and like there is room for more. (Buyers will look in the closets and cupboards to see if there is room for their belongings – prove to them there is!)
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Repaint bold color, non-neutral walls and rooms. (Tinting primer to the new color can make this job much easier).
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Make sure your home is clean by doing the following: 1) Shampoo carpets, 2) clean washer, dryer, and laundry tubs, 3) Clean the refrigerator and stove, 4) Clean and freshen the bathrooms. (Hire a professional cleaning service, if needed. The money you spend on these areas will come back to you in the purchase price!)
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Wax or polish floors, and glue down any seams if you have vinyl flooring.
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Make sure windows and doors operate properly and lubricate bi-fold closet door tracks with a silicon spray.
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Glue loose wallpaper seams and remove soiled or damages wallpaper.
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Clean around fireplaces and remove ashes
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Organize all closets, pack up unnecessary items for storage, and put all toys away.
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Make sure all beds are made, bedrooms are neat and clean, and laundry is clean, folded and put away.
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Consider holding a yard sale BEFORE you place your home on the market to get rid of excess items that can make your home look cluttered or small.
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Clean & repair your bathrooms. 1) Repair loose tiles, 2) Remove loose grout using a grout file, and apply new grout. 3) Remove old tub and tile caulking and install new silicone tub and tile caulk. Concentrate on areas such as counter corners, shower corners, and base of toilet. 4) Old or damaged tubs can often be sprayed with an epoxy coating, 4) Remove all soap scum and dirt build-ups, 5) Clean glass doors with vinegar, and replace badly soiled shower curtains. 6) Don’t forget to vacuum exhaust fans.
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Clean & repair your kitchen. 1) Clean ovens thoroughly, 2) Clean cooktops and exhaust fans 3) Double check all burners to make sure they’re working, 4) Defrost freezers, and thoroughly clean the interior of your refrigerator. Remove mold from refrigerator gaskets. Empty the water collection tray under the refrigerator. 5) Neatly arrange soaps and cleaning accessories under sink, 6) Thoroughly wash fronts of cabinets. 7) Clean out all cabinets and make sure all handles are securely in place.