Home Selling Strategies

What Makes A Home Desirable?

LOCATION-PRICE-CONDITION

1. The Outside Must Shine. You’d be surprised at how many buyers “sell themselves”
on your house on the basis of their first impression as they drive up the street. It’s
called curb appeal. You can enhance curb appeal by making sure the lawn is mowed,
the bushes are trimmed, and the flower beds are freshly mulched. Spending a few
hundred dollars on fresh paint on the front of the house can return thousands of
dollars in sale price. Especially touch up the trim.

2. The Inside Must Look New. Again, paint is cheap. Be your own worst critic. If you
think a room could be brightened with a fresh coat of paint, do it. Stick to light
colors. It is easier for a buyer to view themselves and their belongings in a home
with soft, welcoming colors.

3. Make Cosmetic Repairs. Windows that are cracked, holes in the walls, and tiles
that are chipped all send the wrong message to a potential buyer. Things you may
tend to over look on a daily basis are the things buyers focus on. The buyer is going
to assume that if there are many flaws that can be seen, then there may be even
more serious flaws that can’t be seen.

4. Let In As Much Light As Possible. Open all the curtains. Turn on all the lights in the
house (even in the middle of the day) and increase the wattage in the light bulbs of
all the lamps. Windows should sparkle.

5. De-Clutter & De- Personalize. Don’t just stash it somewhere, get it off
the premises. Remember, every room in the house has to be available for inspection
and every room needs to shout to a homebuyer, “There’s plenty of room for your
stuff!” The clutter will have to be moved when you move, so just think of it like
getting a head start. Also note: if you are planning on marketing your home with
furniture, please don’t be offended if the buyers don’t want it. Tastes differ, and for
that reason, your furniture may be of no value to someone else. Rule of Thumb:
Remove 1/3 of all books, accessories, framed pictures, and clothes from closet rods if
possible. This will create a more spacious overall atmosphere.

6. Leave. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! We will try to give ample notification for a
viewing; however, sometimes it may be an in-prom-to visit, so keep everything as
orderly as possible at ALL times and your keys in sight. We want potential buyers
to freely walk around your home and see everything they want to see without feeling
like they are being watched. Also, they are more likely to say what they really feel
which could be helpful feedback for future references.

7. Set The Dinner Table As If You Are Getting Ready For Dinner.
Ask Your Agent—This may not be appropriate for your home. Put out your best
china and silverware. Put out your best glasses. Don’t forget the candles. In this
room, and in every room, the idea is to show potential buyers how they would live in
your home…that it’s a place where they’ll be happy to entertain their guests.

8. Kitchens And Bathrooms Absolutely Must Be Spotless. Shelves and
countertops must be clean and well organized. No Toiletries or Lotions on the
Counters. Also, assume that people will be looking through your medicine cabinet. If
there is anything you don’t want on public display, get rid of it. Same for inside
cabinets and drawers. & PLEASE PUT YOUR TOILET SEATS DOWN!!!

9. Remove Some Of Your Possessions. Again, the idea is to make your home look as
roomy as possible. If the house is packed floor to ceiling with your possessions, it
makes it harder for potential buyers to see how they’d live in the house.

10. Put Your Pets Somewhere Else. Dogs especially are a problem and must be moved somewhere else. Seriously. Why? Because when strangers come into a house, your
dog may very well start barking. You don’t want the dog to interfere with the
buyer’s ability to see the house. But don’t ask your neighbor to keep the dog, either.
If your dog senses there are strangers wandering through your house, it may start
barking from next door. That will make potential buyers thing the neighbors have a
loud dog, and that could be a real turnoff.

11. Bad Smells Kill Deals. It is worth your money to make sure your house is
clean and odor free. Pet smells, urine on carpets, cigarette smoke, things you don’t
even notice anymore will attack the senses of visitors. Please remove all cat litter
boxes and animal bowls from sight. Use air fresheners if need be. The old standby is
to bake cookies or bread to send an inviting aroma throughout the house. If you
aren’t in the baking mood, no worries, a vanilla or fresh linen scented candle will work
great.