Selling Your House? |
20
Tips for Selling Your Home
As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale
of your property. When you take the following steps, you'll help
your Realtor Sales Associate sell your home faster, at the best
possible price.
1.
Make the Most of that First Impression:
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free
porch welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least
freshly scrubbed - front door. If it's autumn, rake the leaves.
If it's winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between
prospects and the true appeal of your home, the better.
2. Invest
a Few Hours for Future Dividends:
Here's your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up in the living
room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or
the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper
adds charm and value to your property. Prospects would rather see
how great your home really looks than hear how great it could look,
"with a little work."
3. Check
Faucets and Bulbs:
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests
faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs leave prospects in
the dark. Don't let little problems detract from what's right with
your home.
4. Don't
Shut Out a Sale:
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure
they will also stick in a prospect's mind. Don't try to explain
away sticky situations when you can easily plane them away. A little
effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
5. Think
Safety:
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps:
roller skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery
throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence
as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
6. Make
Room for Space:
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable
living space. They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure
your attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
7. Consider
Your Closets:
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the
time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
8. Make
Your Bathrooms Sparkle:
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged
or unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure,
display your best towels, mats and shower curtains.
9. Create
Dream Bedrooms:
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious
look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh
curtains are a must.
10.
Open up in the Daytime:
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects
can see how bright and cheery your home is.
11.
Lighten up at Night:
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside
and outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add
color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
12.
Avoid Crowd Scenes:
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home
filled with people. Rather than giving your house the attention
it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present
to a minimum.
13.
Watch Your Pets:
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing
your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody
a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
14.
Think Volume:
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction.
When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo
or TV.
15.
Relax:
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want
to view your home with a minimum of distraction.
16.
Don't Apologize:
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings.
If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's
appearance, let your experienced Realtor handle the situation.
17.
Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But your Realtor Sales
Associates knows buyers and what they need and what they want. Your
Realtor will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your
home if you stay in the background.
18.
Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store:
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with
offers to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose
the biggest sale of all.
19.
Defer to Experience:
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters,
let them speak to an expert - your Realtor Sales Associate.
20.
Help Your Agent:
Your Realtor will have an easier time selling your home if showings
are scheduled through his or her office. Offer to keep an eye on
the brochure box attached to your sign and make sure it is always
filled with flyers. Try to accommodate prospective buyers when they
want to see your home.
You'll
appreciate the results!
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