Barb's Tips for a Faster Sale

40 Tips for a Faster Sale!!

START HERE: Get a pad of paper and begin outside your home. Go across the street and walk towards your home as though you were a buyer....you'll be surprised at what you see. Then go into your home and make notes in every room. List every item that keeps your home from being a '10'! We all "live with" things in our homes, now is the time to STOP living with them and make some changes!

Reduce clutter.
If you have too much furniture in your home, put some pieces in storage. Arrange the furniture to make the room look larger.
Clean! Not only should your home be spotless, it must be CLEAN. Apply elbow grease & strong cleansers to surfaces inside and outside your home.
Windows must be spotless. Repair cracked panes, torn screens, broken sashes and ropes or cords. Open your curtains whenever there's a showing.
Make minor repairs. Tighten loose knobs, fix leaky faucets and discolored sinks, lubricate squeaky hinges, clean out clogged drains, replace filters, tighten loose banisters.
Make sure all light fixtures work properly. Install new bulbs with the highest wattage allowed in each fixture to make your home look brighter. This is not the time to worry about a few extra cents on the utility bill. Keep all the lights on, making the home look bright and sunny even at night.
Appeal to the senses. If you have pets or someone in the home who smokes, you might be completely unaware of an odor. Ask someone you trust (like your Realtor) for their honest opinion. A little vanilla on a cold light bulb or well placed potpourri or a scented candle helps. A little soft music can create warm feelings when visiting a home.
Dress up the front entrance. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. A coat of paint on the door and a nice shine on the doorknob & doorknocker helps.
Spruce up the landscaping; trim the bushes and make all walkways easy to walk. No one wants to fight the jungle to see a home!
Paint. Light, neutral colors such as beige, white, and off-white can make small rooms seem larger. Older wallpaper should be removed and the walls painted. Fill all nail holes and repair other damage before painting.
Repair roof leaks, then paint over any water marks. DO NOT paint to conceal a problem, always repair before you paint.
Repair a wet basement if possible. The problem can be as easy to fix as a new window well cover or extending the downspouts on your gutters. If you are unable to repair the problem, be prepared to explain the problem to a buyer. Don't try to cover up signs of a wet basement.
Exterminate if necessary. One bug, dead or alive, makes a bad first impression.
Clear off counter areas in kitchen & baths. Don't let a buyer's eye get distracted by your 'things'. Store seldom used small appliances and large baking pans somewhere out of sight.
Consider updating the bathroom. Repainting a bathtub or replacing a toilet or cabinet can make something old into a selling feature. Make sure your shower curtain is fresh and clean.
If you have a deck, patio, porch or other outdoor entertainment area (pool or hot tub), show them well. Make sure they sparkle and are debris-free. A fresh coat of stain or power washing can make a tremendous difference.
Install outdoor lighting that properly illuminates your entrances, walkways and driveway. Turn on all outdoor lights when your home is being shown in the evening.
Give shutters a fresh coat of paint.
Buy a new doormat.
Pick up tools and toys from the yard. Store garbage out of sight. Make sure the garage is swept.
Paint your mailbox.
Clean gutters and downspouts. Straighten and paint if needed.
Depending on the season, power wash the house, walkway and drive.
Repair cracks and pull weeds from walkways and drive.
Carpeting has a major impact on the look of your home. If yours is badly worn, outdated or stained, consider replacing it.
Hardwood floors add beauty and value to a home and deserve special attention.
Ask a friend to care for your pets or take them to a kennel when your home is being shown. Park your camper, boat or extra car at another location.
Buy or cut fresh flowers for a dramatic arrangement in any room.
Take a Picture! If you have photos of your home in all of the seasons, bring them out and let the buyers see them.
Edge between your lawn, drive & walkways.
Remove dead leaves, limbs, and other debris from the lawn.
Trim trees and hedges.
Put fresh mulch around trees, shrubs & hedges.
Put away all lawn equipment.
Make sure the exterior paint and siding are in good condition, and the roof is in good repair.
Weed and cultivate flower gardens.
Repair fences and gates, and give them a fresh coat of paint if needed.
Mow your lawn! For a more lush appearance, be sure to water, mow and fertilize regularly. Remove dandelions and weeds. A good rule of thumb for mowing is to never cut off more than one-third of the blade at one time. For example, if the recommended height is 2 inches, mow when your grass is 3 inches. In the winter, make sure all walks and drives are shoveled and clear of snow & ice.
If you are an absentee seller, make arrangements for lawn care and snow removal.
Clean all curtains and draperies. Shampoo rugs & wax floors.