25 Crucial Things That Help A Home Sell
Quick
1. It is important to make certain that
the first impression is a favorable one. 2. You'll never
have more activity on the home than you will in the first three to four weeks of the
listing. The reason is simple: there are buyers out
there who have seen everything available and for one reason or
another, haven't bought. They are just waiting for something new to
come on the market. 3. When a new property does hit the
market, buyers and agents both will scramble to look at it. It is
common knowledge that the property will
usually sell for the highest price during this time.
After the initial surge of interest, the only people to look at it
will be those buyers new to the marketplace...that's why it's important to price your home
correctly when you list. 4. Make your home look
and feel like a builder’s model home. Everything should look like it
belongs even if it means storing some things until the home is sold.
You are trying to create a feeling that makes potential buyers want
to move in. 5. Don't wait to see if your house will sell
first before implementing making these repairs or replacing items.
Once you do decide to do something, don't just do the easy ones or
just the bare minimum. 6. Your home needs to look good
from the street, up the sidewalk, on the front porch, throughout the
house, in the darkest closets, and even in the attic. You definitely
want buyers to think your home has been well cared for and is in
good shape. 7. You want the prospective buyer to feel that
this home is quality all the way through, not just on the
surface. 8. You are competing with every other home that is currently for
sale: new and resale, in your area and other areas, those
listed with agents and those for sale by owners; even with the
foreclosure homes in the market. 9. Your property must
appeal to owner occupants who will pay the highest price for the
property because they are going to live there as their
home. 10. Typical buyers put all of their savings into the
down payment and closing costs and don't have anything left over to
improve the home such as replacing old, worn-out things. Those
buyers will have to live with that carpet until they can afford to
replace it. 11. If buyers have a choice of two comparable
properties similar in price, they'll choose
the one in the best condition and location. Just as
on the other hand, if two properties are similar in condition and
location, the buyers will choose the home that is less
money. 12. Stand at the street and look at the
house. If all you can see are trees and shrubs, you have some yard
work to do. One of the easiest things to do is trim the shrubs that
are overgrown. They should be lowered to a height near the bottom of
the windows. If there is ivy growing on the side of the home, remove
it. 13. If there are tree branches hanging low in
the yard, they need to be pruned. A simple rule of thumb is to have
all the limbs high enough so that you can walk under the
tree. 14. Invest in a few flats of flowers such as
petunias or periwinkles that will last the entire growing season.
They will add color and beauty to the front of your home. Consider
putting some nice looking flower pots on the porch with red
geraniums or some other blooming plants in them. 15.
Look at the front door and the area around it. Give it a fresh coat
of paint. If the doorbell is broken, replace it. Wash the mail box.
Keep the porch swept. Get an attractive mat for people to wipe their
feet. 16. Air out the home. You are the last person
to notice any peculiar odor in your home that may be very obvious to
visitors. Go on a search to find the offender. It may be a
kitty litter box or a dog bed. It might even be a shower with
mildew. 17. Wash all the windows in the house,
inside and out. While you're at it, clean the window sills and the
bottom of the window jambs, and wash the blinds. 18.
If it has been over a year since you've had the carpets cleaned, now
is the time to do it. The bare floors should also be waxed or
polished, even if they're supposed to be "no
wax." 19. Put bright light bulbs in every socket
made for a bulb. Buyers like "bright and cheery" so you have to keep
it from looking like a dungeon. You'll also want to keep the drapes
and shades open during the day, even if you're not in the habit,
because it will make the property look better. 20.
Clean out all of the closets, cabinets, and drawers. Get rid of
things you haven't used in the past five years. Pack up everything
that you haven't used in the last year. 21. Closets
should look as they have enough room to hold additional items. You
might need to box up off-season clothes to make it look that way.
Get everything off the floor and don't have the shelves piled to the
ceiling. 22. Even though it may be inconvenient, you
will be far better off by selecting the furniture pieces that look
best and putting the others in the garage, attic or better yet, in
storage. You can rent a mini-warehouse for a few dollars a
month. 23. Go over the kitchen like a health
inspector. Clean the oven and keep it that way, even if it means
using it less. After cleaning the range, put new drip pans
under the burners, or at least, cover the old ones with foil. Clean
around the seal of the door of the dishwasher. 24.
Bath tubs, showers and sinks should be freshly caulked. All the
grout should be clean and in good condition. There are excellent
cleaners that will do the job without tons of scrubbing. There
should be no leaks in the faucets or traps. 25. Keep
children's toys out of the front yard and off the sidewalks and
front porch. Get the teenagers and children to understand the
importance of keeping the house looking good while it is on the
market. Take down the posters until the house is sold.
If you
need additional tips on selling your home, please don't hesitate to
email me directly at rod@rodusa.com
or call me at: 435-668-7885. Service to you...is what's
important to me! |