How to Help Your Home Sell
Even in a slow real estate market--homes are being sold--it's just tougher to get buyers to look at your home. Even after you do get a potential buyer into your home--there are still lots of little things that can make them decide to look elsewhere. Here are some steps you can take to avoid turning buyers off--and help you sell your home. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remember, not all buyers can look past a very personal paint color choice and see the potential in a room. Your home will be attractive to more buyers if the walls are painted in a light or neutral color, making it easy for them to picture their furniture in your home.
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Clean up any dirt or clutter. Nothing turns off a potential home buyer faster than a dirty home. Over time, we may get used to a little mildew on the bathtub caulking, but a buyer will notice it immediately. Also, clean up any dirty grout, countertops, sinks and toilets and give your home a good vacuuming before any buyer viewing.
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Eliminate any lingering odors (e.g. smoke, food, pets) in your home. Since we live there, we get used to some odors, but a person walking into your home will pick them up immediately. Use fabric freshener on furniture and carpets and mild air fresheners to get rid of the smells.
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Give your home some "curb appeal" by going around the outside and picking up and putting away any yard/ garden tools or bicycles. Keep your lawns and gardens trimmed neatly too, and if the existing paint on your trim and front door is old or faded, update it.
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Brighten up the interior by cleaning the windows so they sparkle and replacing any burnt-out light bulbs. You could also use higher wattage bulbs to provide more light.
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Get rid of any clutter in your basement, garage or shed. Clutter sends a message that your home may not be well maintained and is a definite turn off for a buyer. Also, tidy kitchen cupboards, as well as the pantry, and organize your closets. Neat, tidy and uncluttered storage spaces give buyers the impression there is lots of storage in your home, and storage is always a positive.
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Consider painting an unfinished basement in a light color to make it appear less dark. Adding inexpensive carpeting can also make an unfinished basement more attractive.
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Clean your appliances. Someone looking to buy your home might look anywhere, so be sure your oven and microwave are clean and there is no old food or food containers in your fridge.
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Tips & Warnings
Smoking and pet odors are two things we get so used to we don't even notice them, but leave a lasting impression on your home. While you are selling your house, consider doing your smoking outside, and if possible, have your pets stay with a friend or relative.
Never leave dishes in the sink when you leave for work. If you know in advance buyers are coming to look at your home tidy and vacuum before the visit.
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Comments
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chewygirl1
Jul 08, 2009
Wise article. While my husband and I are renters, I remember the quick choice I made for our apartment even when the previous tenant's things were still in the rooms. She had abandoned the place months before. I worry about how things look sometimes, but then I remember I am not planning on staying here forever. -
virgorising
Jun 25, 2009
To those of you who think that an agent needs to show a house only on your time frame and that buyers need to give sellers a break and see past various things, the above tips were to try to help you sell your home in an extreme sellers market. If you don't want to play the game by THIS year's rules, wait a while til things turn around. But for now, the least little thing can make a buyer go on down the street. And the buyer gets to see the house on HIS timeframe or again, he'll move on down the street. There are so many houses for sale now that the buyers can be as picky and even ridiculous as they want to be. Right now, there is always another house to choose, and no multiple offers. Sorry, it's just the way it is ...NOW.
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jenng
Jun 23, 2009
Great article on How to Help Your Home Sell 5*
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Jerry Buerge
Jun 23, 2009
A home owner has the obvious right and obligation to offer the house for display ONLY when it is beneficial to themselves. That means, ONLY when it is ready to be viewed. NOT at the agent's convenience.
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bajih
Jun 19, 2009
Keep in mind that some sellers have had their houses on the market for months and sometimes years- and it is impossible to live in the "perfectly-kept and staged home" day to day. It is extremely hard when realtors and buyers do not give a day or two notice to come see my house- yet everyone expects it to be shiny and staged. Be real. That is fine for Open Houses and such, but when my realtor calls me with a showing an hour away, I am just lucky to be home to do a quick pick-up! Give us sellers a break! We are in the worst market! It is hard knowing that at any time your house could be seen. Unreal stress on the whole family. Buyers-See beyond the color of the room or the type of drapes people have hanging. Be a little more sophisticated than that and look for the quality of construction, layout of the house; area that the house is in and the neighborhood. THESE are the things that a...
