Sell It Smart!
Regardless of subtle variations from market to market, there are proven steps every homeowner can take to "showcase" their house to potential buyers. If you're considering putting your home on the market, use the following tips to ensure that you're putting your best foot forward!
Disassociate Yourself With Your Home. Think of your home as a house-a product to be sold much like any other consumer item. Make the decision to de-emotionalize the process so you're free to see both its strengths and weaknesses, and deal with them accordingly.
De-Personalize. Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal artifacts and you don't want them to be distracted. In fact, you want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls; they can't do that if yours are there!
De-Clutter. People collect an amazing quantity of junk during their life in a home. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it. Remove books from bookcases, pack up knickknacks, de-clutter kitchen counters, etc. Think of this process as a head start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets. Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. Think of the message it sends if items fall out! Now imagine what a buyer believes about you if he/she sees everything organized. It says you probably take good care of the rest of the house as well. So take time to organize linen closets, drawers, cabinets, etc.
Rent a Storage Unit. Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around.
Remove or Replace Favorite Items. If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, he/she won't want it. Once you tell buyers they can't have a certain item, they will covet it, and it could blow your deal. Pack those items and replace them, If necessary.
Make Minor Repairs. Replace cracked floor or counter tiles. Patch holes in walls. Fix leaky faucets, doors that don't close properly, and kitchen drawers that jam. Replace burned-out light bulbs. You might also consider painting your walls neutral colors, especially if you have grown accustomed to strong, bright colors. (Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
Make the House Sparkle! Clean your home inside and out as if a general's wife was expected at any time to make a "white glove" inspection! Pay special attention to odors also-clean and air out musty smelling areas.
Scrutinize. Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you? Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer. Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
Check Your Curb Appeal. The goal of showing your house is to get the buyer inside. If your house looks unappealing from the street, your buyer might choose to "pass." To ensure that your house looks inviting from the outside keep the sidewalks cleared, the lawn mowed, and the bushes pruned. Paint faded window trim and consider planting flowers.