Get Your House Ready to Show to Buyers

A house that "sparkles" on the surface will sell faster than its shabby neighbor, even though both are structurally well maintained.

From experience, REALTORS® also know that a "well-polished" house appeals to more buyers and will sell faster and for a higher price. Additionally, buyers feel more comfortable purchasing a well-cared for home because if what they can see is well maintained, they assume that what they can't see has probably also been well maintained.
 

The First Impression

We have all heard how important first impressions can be but did you that within 15 seconds a buyer has eceloped an opinion of your property? That is why establishing the right first impression is critical to achieving a successful sale.

The Model Home Effect

The best way to make a buyer “feel at home” is to create an environment similar to that found in a model home. Some of these features include:

• The environment is neutral.
• The colors and interior decorating accent the home’s features.
• The smell is new and clean.
• The sound is either quiet or enhanced by subtle background music.
• All details are looked after, from manicuring the lawn to a floral arrangement in the entry.

In preparing your home for the market, spend as little money as possible. Buyers will be impressed by a brand new roof, but they aren't likely to give you enough extra money to pay for it. There is a big difference between making minor and inexpensive polishes and touch-ups to your house, such as putting new knobs on cabinets and a fresh coat of neutral paint in the living room, and doing extensive and costly renovations, like installing a new kitchen.

 

Maximizing Exterior and Curb Appeal
When preparing to put your home up for sale, your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside.

Here are some tips to enhance your home's exterior and curb appeal to buyers:

Street: Make sure the street in front of your house is free of litter and debris. If necessary, give it a fresh sweep.

Sidewalk: Sweep your sidewalk if needed and remove weeds that may be growing between cracks. In the winter, clear the sidewalk and walkway of snow and ice.

Fence: A freshly painted fence gives your home a crisp look.

Paint: A fresh coat of paint can be one of the best investments you can make to increase the value of your property. If you do not want to spend the money to paint the entire house, consider just the shutters or front door. The door way is the focal point of your house so it’s important to have a fresh coat of paint, new hardware applied, or a flowerbox alongside the door. If you have siding, have a cleaning service wash some out and wash it.

Mailbox/light fixtures: A quick painting of an old mailbox will let the buyer know you care about the details. If outdoor lamps look rusted and worn out, new ones will cast a positive light on your property.

Landscape: Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered and regularly trim hedges, weed lawns and weed flowerbeds.

 

Maximizing Interior Appeal

 You want your home to look as spacious, bright and clean as possible. Also the home should look neutral – without a lot of your personal and sentimental objects - so buyers can begin to imagine living there.

Here are some tips to enhance your home's interior appeal to buyers:

Light: it is proven that people react more favorably to property shown under bright light than dark.

• Keep windows clean
• Use adequate wattage in light bulbs
• Consider replacing old fluorescent lamps, which darken with use
• Use mirrors to magnify the feeling of light and space
• Use light wall colors
• Open drapes and blinds and turn on lights prior to showings

• White, beige, or gray are the most popular exterior colors
• Try to limit bright colors to accents like flowers, towels, area rugs, and shower curtains

• Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. This alone will make your house appear bigger and brighter. Some homeowners with crowded rooms actually rent storage garages and move half their furniture out, creating a sleeker, more spacious look.
• Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms: they should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free; Repair dripping faucets and showerheads and buy showy new towels for the bathroom, and put them out only for showings.
• Check for cracks, leaks and signs of dampness in the attic and basement, and seal basement walls if there are any signs of dampness or leakage.
• Replace broken or cracked windowpanes, moldings and other woodwork.
• Use mirrors whenever possible to enhance the perception of size. Of course, no need to have mirrors in every room, typically the living room or dining room benefit from this.

By showing attention to detail and understanding the buyer’s need to visualize your house again a neutral backdrop, you can dramatically increase the saleability of your property.