Some people love their homes and can get
downright sentimental about the prospect of selling the place that has been the
location of so many important events in their lives. (Imagine
the Huxtables leaving that great two story home where Sondra, Theo, Vanessa, Olivia
and Rudy grew up.)
Other people hate their homes. They want
more storage, bigger closets, bigger bedroom, new bathrooms and updated
kitchens. They aren’t sentimental at all. (Think
Clint Eastwood escaping from Alcatraz.)
They want one thing only: O.U.T.
Whichever category you fall in, you have
a vested interest in getting the most out of your home in the least amount of
time. After all, houses are not just a
great place to live, but a great investment.
When you put your house on the market, you’re
competing against every property in
the same price range in town. You might
believe you have the advantage in location or size or amenities, but potential
buyers can be as picky as a toddler with a plate full of asparagus.
Here are a few pointers to help make
your house appeal to the broadest number of buyers. Whether you love it or hate it….
1. Picture
this!
It’s
really hard to look at your home from a buyer’s perspective, but this is one of
the most important steps. To make it
easier, I recommend taking pictures of each room. Don’t forget the closets and cupboards, because
how much storage space is available is definitely a selling point. Upload those pictures to your computer and
really study your rooms, one by one. Is
there too much furniture? Have you let
your husband fill the table by his chair with his “essential” clutter? Is that closet so jam-packed that opening the
door reminds you of a jack-in-the-box at the end of its tune?
Oh,
wait. I think that’s my house.
2. Ride That
Broom!
The
most important tip any realtor can give you is to get your house sparkling
clean. Deep clean once, including such things as light fixtures and replacing light
bulbs. Windows need to be clean and
sparkling, because you’ll want your house to look light and airy. When the buyer enters your home for the first
time, it needs to be bright, clean, fresh-smelling and comfortable.
And as
you’ve no doubt already figured out, you’ll need to keep it that way. Buyers aren’t just picky, they’re
impatient. If they can’t see your house
in a pretty quick time period, they tend to move on to something else.
3. Life is
Messy!
While
you’re in the process of cleaning your house, take a look at whether there are
items you could pack away for your future move.
The more spacious you can make your home look, the quicker the sale. We tend to surround ourselves with things
that make our home seem homey to us. But
“homey” is really subjective. A buyer
wants to fill that same house with his
things. If yours are gone, it’s easier
for him to visualize that space as his.
Things that could be packed away are family photos, knickknacks, collections,
any items you rarely use, out of season clothes, etc.
4. Evaluate,
Determine, Appraise…
Does the front flower bed need to be
cleaned out? Is the paint peeling? Is that faucet dripping? Do the shower doors and tile look clean and
shiny? Are the paint colors
neutral? Does the carpet need to be
cleaned or replaced? Sometimes a small
expense like fresh paint or flowers in the flower bed can make all the
difference. Sometimes, it’s worth it to
spend the money for new carpet, rather than wait months and months for a buyer
to come along who’s willing to replace it themselves.
5. Should I
move that over there?
When
you’re evaluating your home, decide if any of the rooms has too much furniture
in it. It seems no matter how much space
we have, we tend to fill it to overflowing. See what items you could store away until
you’re in your new home. Decide how best
to arrange the furniture to make the most of the space available. If you need a second opinion, call your
realtor for help.
6. What’s my
Style?
Because
we live in a world of constant change, it’s important to look at your home
subjectively and determine if there are items in it that make it seem
dated. Look for items like knickknacks,
flower arrangements, curtains, paintings, etc.
Though we might love those things, we are not the buyers.
7. A Bath and a Hot
Meal…
Kitchens
and bathrooms sell a home, so look yours over carefully.
Eliminate anything unnecessary on your
countertops. Organize your cupboards,
because buyers will open every cabinet.
If they’re overwhelmingly cluttered, pack things away. Make your countertops sparkle. This might mean replacing them or refinishing
them. You decide what is necessary.
But if you’ve hated your countertops for
the last ten years, a buyer will probably hate them too.
In the
bathrooms, look things over with a health inspector’s eye. If your sink is chipped, check into replacing
it. If the faucets were installed twenty
years ago, replace them. Hang fresh
towels. Keep bathrooms looking and
smelling clean and fresh.
8. I Think
She’s Attractive, but…
80% of
buyers decide to look at the interior of a home based on their reaction to the
exterior. If the interior looks like a
feature in House Beautiful, but the
outside looks like a reject from Mother
Earth News, you’ll never get buyers to look past the front porch. Look at
the paint, siding and bricks, as well as the decks or patios. Would power-washing make it look new and
fresh? Clean leaves and weeds out of
front flower beds, trim bushes, add flowers if the season is right. Put children’s toys and bikes away.
According
to many industry experts, over half of buyers decide whether they’re going to
buy a house before they ever get out
of the car!
9. Every Space
Matters.
Closets
matter. Laundry rooms matter. The back door where you shed your shoes
matters. Dog bowls, cat beds, bird cages
matter. Your kids’ toys matter.
People notice everything. Just make sure what they notice is good.
10. You Need
Help, Lady!
This
probably should have been the number one tip on the list, because it’s essential
to your success. If you’re really
serious about selling your home, hire a professional. Homes listed with realtors sell for an
average of 16% more money than homes sold by owner. On a $100,000 house... well, you can do the math.
Love it
or hate your house, who couldn’t use a nice little chunk of change like that?
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