1. Get rid of clutter.
Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
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2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
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Provide plenty of light and make your home a warm, welcoming place. Open the curtian to let the sunshine.
3. Keep everything extra clean.
Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for. Remeber, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work!"
4. Get rid of smells.
Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter.
-especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression.
Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained. Don't break the bank preparing your home for sale. When possible, stick with the simpler and less expensive options rather than remodeling.
7. Tidy your yard.
Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway. Curb appeal is important! Keep your lawn and other landscaping neatly trimmed, weeded, and watered. Check the exterior of your home for signs of wear and damage. In the fall, rake the leaves; in the winter shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Clean your gutters.
10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property's realistic price range.
Too high and buyers might not consider it, too low and you are selling yourself short. Many sellers may believe that the initial listing price isn't important becasue the price can always be adjusted down later and that you will be willing to negotiate. Potential buyers for your home are not thinking this because they are comparing your asking price to other asking prices.
2. Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings.
It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll find a seller.
4. Be ready for the offers.
Decide in advance what price and terms you.ll find acceptable.
5. Don't refuse to drop the price.
If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.
Reprinted from REALTORŪ Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORSŪ Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. www.REALTOR.org/realtormag
