WORDS OF WISDOM:
KIM’S TOP TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME
First Impressions are Lasting
The mailbox and front door greet the prospective buyer. Make sure they are freshly painted. Keep lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. If you have no landscaping, invest a couple hundred dollars in some inexpensive shrubs and mulch. You’ll be amazed at how much more traffic you get!
Decorate for a Quick Sale
You don’t live in a house the way you sell it! Don’t take offense when your agent tells you what needs to be done in order to get the house ready for market; they have experience with these kinds of things every day!
Faded walls with nail holes and worn woodwork reduce appeal. Why try to tell the prospect how your home could look when you can show him/her by redecorating? A quicker sale at a higher price will result. An investment of new paint and wallpaper can pay dividends, and you can’t find a better investment when selling a house than a little putty and a few cans of paint to brighten up its interior.
Let the Sun Shine In
Clean your windows! Open draperies and blinds in order to let the buyer see how cheerful your home can be! Dark rooms are NOT appealing, and clean windows are the cheapest way to purchase natural light!
Fix that Faucet
Dripping water discolors the sinks and suggests faulty plumbing. Dripping faucets are usually very inexpensive to fix!
Repairs Can Make a Big Difference
Loose knobs, sticking and squeaking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, and other minor flaws detract from a home’s value. Have them fixed. Most buyers believe there are 10 problems they haven’t noticed for every one they do see. Consider hiring a home inspector to do a comprehensive inspection prior to listing your home, and have repairs made prior to the first buyer walking through your door.
From Top to Bottom
Display the full value of your attic and other utility space by removing all unnecessary articles. Short-term, off-site storage areas are relatively inexpensive.
Safety First
Keep stairways clear. Make sure your pull-down attic stairs are in top-notch working order; if not, have them repaired or replaced. Make sure all lights to the attic and basement are on prior to buyer’s arrival. Avoid cluttered appearances and possible injuries. In the winter, keep walkways cleared and IceMelt on your sidewalk if needed.
Make Closets Look Bigger
Neat, well-organized closets show that space is ample. A little money spent on closet organizers reaps large returns.
Bathrooms Help Sell Homes
Re-caulk sinks, bathtubs and showers. Re-line the linen closet with new shelf paper. Clean tile, and wipe down the tub/shower, sinks and mirrors daily while your home is on the market. Make sure the bathroom vent isn’t noisy. Let this room sparkle!
Arrange Bedrooms Neatly
Remove excess furniture. Use attractive bedspreads and arrange foot of bed facing toward the door. Remove excess toys and posters in the kids’ rooms.
Harmonize the Elements
Keep FM radio or stereo on softly (classical, easy-listening or jazz music is best). Turn TV off. Turn all lights on, day or night. Keep all blinds/drapes open in the daytime and closed at night. If it’s hot, cool it. If it’s cold, light a fire. Nothing will chase buyers away faster than a too-cold or too-hot home.
When the Agent arrives with the Prospective Buyer…
Three’s a Crowd
Avoid being home during showings. The potential buyer will feel like an intruder and hurry through the house. Objections that can be overcome by a professional will not be forthcoming when the seller is present. You don’t have to leave until the buyer gets there: just remember to cut out as the buyer is coming in, and to let the agent handle it. Keep in mind that the agent has worked many hours with these people and knows what they are looking for. Let the agent do their job without interference. You may feel that an agent isn’t showing the important features of your home to the prospect, but the agent knows that buyers aren’t sold by details under after they’ve become emotionally involved with the big picture of your home. The presence of any member of the seller’s family doesn’t help and always unnerves prospective buyers, possibly preventing a sale. Don’t put this obstacle in your path: please leave when buyers are coming.
Silence is Golden
If you do meet up with the buyer, be courteous but don’t force conversation with them. They want to inspect your house, not pay a social call. Again, make sure you are leaving or already gone when the buyer and his/her agent come in.
Be It Ever So Humble
Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it has been lived in. Let the trained salesperson answer any objections. This is their job.
Music is Mellow
…but not when showing a house. Turn off the blaring radio or television. Let the salesperson and buyer talk—free of disturbances.
Pets Underfoot?
Keep pets out of the way—preferably out of the house and off the premises . Many people are acutely uncomfortable around some animals.
Why Put the Cart Before the Horse?
Trying to dispose of furniture and furnishings to potential buyers before he/she has purchased the house often loses a sale and shows an over-emphasized motive to sell.
A Word to the Wise
Let your Realtor® discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the prospect or their agent. (S)he is eminently qualified to bring negotiations to a favorable conclusion.