First Impressions are Lasting Impressions
The exterior of your home often determines how buyers will view the interior, so:
Make sure your front entrance is clean and inviting.
Add some paint to shutters, trim and any other outside features showing signs of wear.
Paint or replace your front door if it's faded or worn.
Add vibrant plants and put down some fresh mulch.
Accentuate the Positive.
"How we live in a home and how we sell a home are often two different things."
Try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes, including:
• Keep windows and floors clean.
• Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall.
• Repair worn woodwork.
• Repaint scarred or dirty walls in a neutral color.
• Steam clean carpeting or replace it, if necessary.
• Repair loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches and other minor flaws.
• Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers.
• Open draperies and curtains to let the light in during the showing.
• Remove all unnecessary clutter from your attic, basement and closets to better display spacious rooms (consider storage or a garage sale to dispose of extraneous items).
• Arrange all your rooms neatly and remove excess furniture. Keep fresh, clean towels in the bathroom. Use candles or air fresheners to make the room smell pleasant.
Put Your Home in the best possible light.
Strategically lighting your home, even during daytime showings, can create a cozy mood and highlight positive attributes of each room, so:
Avoid the use of overhead lighting that makes rooms look washed out and lifeless.
Use lighting to highlight the "living areas" of your home, such as a pair of chairs near a fireplace, or a table in a breakfast area.
Be creative and arrange lamps to help smaller rooms seem larger, and large rooms seem more intimate.
1)
Sound:
Turn off the television and tune the radio (low volume) to a soft rock, middle of the road or classic rock station.
2)
Sight:
Turn on every light in the house (day or night) and open every drape and blind (day time only).
3)
Odors:
Heat some frozen pastry slowly in the oven or heat a pan on the stove and then drop in a few drops of vanilla.
4)
Kitchen:
Wipe kitchen counters, place dirty dishes in dishwasher.
5)
Bathrooms:
Wipe counters, flush and close toilets.
6)
Living/Family Rooms:
Hide magazines, newspapers, and games; remove clutter.
7)
Bedrooms:
Straighten beds. Hide clutter under bed (not in closet).
8)
Exterior:
Put away toys and clutter. Keep walk clear.
9)
Children & Pets:
They are a distraction, so send them outside.
10)
Goodbye:
Sorry, but this is the single most important thing you can do in a showing to help sell your home! Even if the showing agent insists that it is okay to stay, you must leave. Buyers must get emotionally committed to your home to buy it and they cannot become emotional about "their new home" if you, the current owners, are "hanging around." Please, at the very least, go into the backyard. Even better, go to the store.
