Getting Your Home
Ready Inside
CLEAN!
Look at your home as though you are seeing it for the first time. Is
every room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean
carpets and wax floors. Wash walls, windows and light fixtures. Liquid
Gold all trim and wood surfaces. Tighten loose stair railings. Call
us if you would like a recommendation of a professional cleaning service or repair
person.
KITCHEN and BATHS
These rooms should gleam! Clear off counters. Clean all appliances and fixtures. Replace
chrome burner plates on the range. Scrub floors and walls - repaint if necessary. Recaulk
tubs and showers. Clean thoroughly and be sure these rooms smell fresh.
FURNITURE
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Pack away
knick-knacks from end tables, coffee tables and shelves - one or two items per surface is
plenty.
CLOSETS
Remove out-of-season clothing. Take those things to charity that you'll have to discard
anyway when you move. Organize shelves, straighten shoes. Be sure sliding doors operate
smoothly in their tracks and knobs on drawers are secure.
UTILITY ROOM
Dust/wash off lint from washer and dryer. Remove stains and mineral deposits from
furnaces, even dust/wash off the furnace and hot water heater.
AMBIANCE
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace dim bulbs with bright ones,
replace wallpaper with off-white paint, repaint shabby or dark walls. Open the blinds,
replace broken windows and window seals. During winter, maintain a comfortable temperature
even if you are away for an extended time. There is no music that soothes all beasts, so
play it safe by turning your stereo off.
Getting Your Home Ready Outside
YARD
Look at your exterior as though you were driving up for the first time. Remove any debris,
repaint/restain where necessary, park any stored car/motor home somewhere else. In summer,
trim bushes and mow/weed-whack the grass around your home. In winter, be sure your drive
and walk to the front entry are free of snow.
DECKS/PATIOS
Clean, straighten and repaint if necessary. Tighten loose railings. Arrange the patio
furniture and toss old or rusty items.
FRONT ENTRY
First impressions really do count. Be sure the front door and screen are in good repair.
Sweep away pine needles and cobwebs. We tend to overlook this area when we don't enter our
home through the front door.
PETS
The presence and/or odor of a pet should be avoided. Even a friendly dog's barking may
frighten a buyer. If you can't remove your dog, can you confine him to the garage or dog
run? Cats and cat boxes may bring tears to the eyes of a buyer (due to allergies, not fond
feelings.) Be sure litter boxes are clean and out of the way.
IT'S IMPORTANT
Do these things now and get the benefit of enhanced appeal to buyers. Since buyers tend to magnify every minor flaw, minor repairs performed now will deter niggling
later on. The dollars you spend will repay you tenfold.
Preparing for Showings
PICK UP EVERY ROOM
Check counters, floors, closets, halls, stairs, and make beds. Straighten or remove
newspapers, magazines, mail, toys, clothing, recreation gear, snack glasses and dishes.
TURN ON LIGHTS
Even during the day, especially in halls and dark areas. Don't forget closets and utility
rooms.
OPEN THE BLINDS
Be sure they are open all the way to promote views and allow more sunlight in.
KITCHEN
Clear all counters, wipe down counter and appliances, put all dishes in the dishwasher.
Clean the sink and run the disposal. Best to smell fresh or like chocolate chip cookies
were just baked.
BATHS
Straighten wash cloths and towels, even replace with fresh, attractive ones if possible.
Clean and wipe down counters and sinks. Air out if mist lingers from a recent shower. Must
smell fresh, not like deodorant.
LEAVE
It is best for you not to be present during showings. Buyers talk and look more freely
when you are gone, they feel like intruders and are uncomfortable when you are there. If
you get caught at home during a showing, don't attempt to show your home: you may
inadvertently disclose a compromising fact or you may bore the buyers with information
they are not interested in and lose their enthusiasm. Let the agent sell your home. Even
though it sometimes seems the agent couldn't sell ice water in the desert, bite your
tongue. Agents sometimes find that buyers wish to discover the ambiance of homes on their
own rather than have amenities pointed out.
MATERIALS
The purpose of our marketing materials at your home is to answer questions a typical buyer
asks. Please review the profiles when they first come and let us know about any
inaccuracies. If you run low (don't wait until you are completely out), let us know. And
if the sign begins to lean, let us know. We will attend to your requests right away.
Following these tips will improve your chances for quick sale.
Contact us for more information |
