Tips for Selling Your Home
My name is Dora Marrero and I am a Realtor®.
Prepare your home!
The appearance on the outside should make the buyer want to see the inside. Buyers are often influenced by their emotions when choosing a house. With this in mind, think of prospective buyers as honored guests. Clean from top to bottom and roll out the red carpet!
Home Staging
Some sellers elect to hire a professional to organize their belongings and arrange their home for maximum appeal to buyers.
"Home staging" is a smart investment, especially if your house is selling for 200K or more.
Driveways, Walks & Roof:
Pressure clean if necessary, remove leaves and pine needles. Replace light bulbs or install lighting systems for the outside of your home.
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Landscaping:
Mow lawn, trim edges, pull weeds, manicure shrubs, plant inexpensive flowers, refresh mulch. Spray for pests if necessary.
Front Entrance:
Put out the welcome mat! Clean entry door. Replace or repaint house numbers. Make sure screens, handles & knobs are in good condition. Paint if necessary. A colorful door is usually very inviting.
Portches & Patio:
Pressure clean to remove stains and mildew. Furniture should be inviting. It helps the buyers imagine giving a picnic on the patio! Make sure your pool is clean enough so that the buyers are tempted to take a dip.
Garages:
Tidy up and remove any stains on the floor.
Interior:
Secure your pets; even if your pets are friendly, they may interfere with the buyer's perception of the home. Store your possesions to reduce clutter. When in doubt, put it in the closet! Or even better, put extra items in storage so the spaciousness of your closets can be better appreciated. The more tidy your home is, the easier the buyer can imagine it as their own home...decorated to their individual taste.
Fix it up:
Repair loose doorknobs, stuck drawers, warped cabinet doors, sluggish sliding doors. Take care of general repairs.
Kitchen:
Countertops should be clean. Make the appliances and fixtures sparkle. Remove everything but the most necessary items from view.
Lights:
Use high wattage bulbs. Keep drapes and blinds open. Turn on all lights when showing your home.
Sound:
Turn off the radio and television when showing your home. If you would like to demonstrate a built in sound system, do it deliberately. Ask the prospective buyer what their favorite radio station is and tune in so that the music they hear is the music they prefer.
Carpets and Drapes:
Clean thoroughly to remove pet and tobacco odors. Buyers are very influenced by odors. For that reason, it's not a bad idea to have a little something special baking in the oven when buyers come to visit! Or to make matters even more simple: put a few drops of vanilla in a pan of water, place this in a warm oven, and your house will smell good enough to eat.
Paint:
Touch up where necessary: around light switches, door jambs, window sills.
Neatness and Cleanliness:
Remove all cobwebs & fingerprints. Dust ceiling fans. Wash windows.
Bathroom:
Spotless! Caulk around tubs and sinks if necessary. Replace chipped tile. Remove or replace mildowed or torn wallpaper. Fix leaky faucets. Arrange only the essentials on vanity tops.
Take Pride:
Take pride in your home. When speaking with a prospective buyer, never apologize for what you think might be a shortcoming. Let your Realtor® handle it.
