There is so much to think about when it is time to sell your house.
⌂ Is it a Buyers’ Market or a Sellers’ Market in my price range and location?
⌂ How can I price my house so that it will sell within my timeframe?
⌂ What marketing strategies are the most effective and will sell my house quickly?
⌂ What should I do to put my house in a condition to sell quickly?
⌂ What should I fix? How much should I leave as-is?
⌂ How can I get the most dollars for my house?
⌂ What is a “short sale”?
⌂ What effect are foreclosures and short sales having on houses in my price range and location?
⌂ Should I choose an agent to help me sell? How do I choose the “right agent"?
⌂ And so many, many more!
I CAN HELP
Countless hours spent working with Buyers have equipped real estate agents with the tried and true picture of what Buyers are looking for when they are buying a house. Buyers are always looking for the most value at the best price within whatever markets exist at that time.
Knowing how Buyers make their choices and preparing accordingly, can mean the difference between selling quickly for the most dollars possible or lingering on the market far too long and possibly settling for a much lower price.
In this Pre-List Packet, I cover three important areas about selling your house:
1.) I will share “ proven real estate truths” you will need to know to make your best decisions regarding: Preparing Your House to Sell
Pricing Strategies Marketing Strategies Staging and Condition
Benefits of Working with an Agent
Choosing a Real Estate Agent
2.) I will provide you with proven ideas in pre-sale preparation to make your house look its very best. ( located at back of packet)
3.) I will outline exactly the services you should receive when working with an agent and how I will deliver those services should you and I decide to work together.
GIVE IT “EYE” APPEAL MAKE THE INSIDE SPARKLE
Curb Appeal will get the buyer to come in, but it’s what on the inside that makes the sale. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be cleaned, scrubbed and polished so that the buyer sees your house in its best light.
KITCHEN
No room in the house has greater impact on the buyer than the kitchen. It should sparkle and gleam.
□ Oven, cook tops and ventilating hood should be spotlessly cleaned, inside and out.
□ Replace any badly worn flooring.
□ Scour walls, floors, sinks and fixtures until they shine.
□ Clean and polish cabinets and drawer fronts. Consider professionally painting dull, dark cabinets.
□ Remove toasters, coffee makers, can openers and other clutter from counter tops to make counter space and room look larger.
□ Remove all photos and magnets from refrigerator front.
□ Wash the windows.
□ Remove any wallpaper of unique color and design and replace or paint with neutrals that will appeal to more buyers.
□ Repair any dripping faucets and slow running drains.
□ Replace any small ineffective light fixtures. Poor lighting makes the kitchen gloomy and uninviting.
BATHROOM
Next to the kitchen, it’s the second most important room in the house. The condition of the
bathroom(s) speaks volumes to the buyer about the overall condition of the house.
□ Scour tile walls, floors, bathtubs, sinks, toilets and shower stalls until they shine. Remember to wipe down tiles, sinks and shower doors daily.
□ Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, tiles, bathtubs, and sinks.
□ Replace old caulking around bathtubs and faucets. Replace any missing grout between tiles and clean thoroughly to remove dirt stains and mildew.
□ Keep all mirrors shinning.
□ If bathtub drains too slowly, unclog.
□ Clean and polish all cabinet and drawer fronts.
FIREPLACES
□ Remove any old ashes.
□ Polish fireplace tools, screens and doors. Stack logs neatly.
LIVING AREAS
□ Wash interior windows. Make sure windows open and close properly.
□ Have walls in top condition. Repair hairline cracks and nail pops. If any bookcases, drapery rods, window treatments, or fixtures are going with you, remove and repair walls before placing the house on the market.
GIVE IT CURB APPEAL
Getting top dollar for your house requires seeing your house through the eyes of a prospective buyer. It’s the little things you do that enhance the value to the buyer. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be done to create that first impression that says I’m loved and cared for.
EXTERIOR
□ Pressure wash to brighten color and remove mildew and dirt build-up.
□ Paint all faded siding, window trim, and shutters.
□ If paint color does not conform to neighborhood norm- repaint in appropriate color.
□ Repair (fill nail pops) or replace and repaint all damaged, delaminated siding.
□ Paint the front door in order to brighten appearance upon approach.
□ Repair or replace all rotten or damaged wood around window sills and doors.
□ Check all gutters and downspouts—clean and replace if necessary.
□ Replace all broken, cracked window panes and torn screens.
□ Wash the windows to remove dirt, cobwebs and insect nest.
□ Check mailbox and replace if broken or dilapidated.
□ Replace exterior light fixture if outdated or damaged.
SIDEWALKS/DRIVEWAYS
□ Repair all cracks in walkways and driveways (pour dry repair mix into cracks, sweep away excess, sprinkle liberally with water.)
□ Pressure wash sidewalks and driveways to remove built-up dirt stains and mildew.
□ Edge and trim the lawn next to sidewalks and driveways.
LAWNS
□ Keep lawn freshly mowed and trimmed. In the fall of year, clear lawn of fallen leaves weekly.
□ Remove toys, bicycles, wagons, garden hoses from lawn.
□ Re-seed or sod bare unsightly areas in lawn.
□ Keep lawn edged next to curb areas.
SHRUBBERY
□ Remove or replace any dead shrubs, hedges, and trees.
□ Trim all shrubs and scraggly bushes. Keep shrubbery below level of window to avoid blocking light.
□ Skirt any trees that block view of house.
□ Add color and charm with seasonal flowers in pots or along beds.
DECKS/PATIOS
□ Pressure wash decks and patios.
□ Replace rotten wood, repair loose rails, reseal deck if necessary.
□ Edge the lawn along patio.
Clear out the clutter. Clutter can reduce your house’s value. Clear away kitchen counters and keep dirty dishes out of the sink. Eliminating clutter and excess furniture makes rooms appear larger. Recycle those stacks of old magazines and newspapers you have been saving for no good reason. Dump all that junk you’ve accumulated over the years in your attic and basement.
Closet space sells houses! Get rid of all those clothes you don’t wear any more. Clean those closets out. Organize them. Make them look large and roomy. Do the same with built-in drawers. Like it or not, serious buyers will inspect your closets and drawers.
Make cosmetic improvements. Painting isn’t expensive if you do it yourself, but be careful that the job isn’t poorly done, and be careful when selecting colors. Avoid bold colors with strong visual impact. Stick to soft whites and other neutral colors that won’t clash with most prospective buyer’s taste. If your finished basement is dark and gloomy, paint the walls and ceiling a light color.
Pay attention to everything anywhere in your house that could cause a buyer to “reduce your price”. Find them and repair them before you put it on the market. Look for any hairline cracks over doors or windows and nail pops in sheet rock. Locate any ceiling stains and repair the source of the leak. Check for windows with cracked panes or that do not open and shut properly. Watch for doors that stick, don’t close or slide properly. Observe bathrooms for signs of mildew, rust stains in sinks and toilets, missing tiles or grout, inadequate caulking around tubs. Check for drippy faucets, slow draining sinks and tubs, broken mirrors. Make certain that all appliances that remain with the house are in proper working order.
Remember. Buyers consider any of the above problems a sign of poor maintenance. More often than not they are correct. Their solutions---either don’t buy or reduce the price by thousands.
STAGING
Staging a house goes way beyond your efforts to make it look neat, clean, and well cared for. Just as stagehands set the stage for Broadway productions, you can stage your house to create a production designed to WOW prospective buyers and set your house apart from the competition.
If you have ever visited a new home development and walked through the builder’s model home, you
know exactly what staging is. Builders have visual coordinators who do elaborate staging jobs:
placing furniture, using neutral colors for carpets, drapes, hanging artwork on walls, setting a beautiful table, placing a bowl of fruit on kitchen counter, having beautiful flower arrangement in the living area, and maybe an open book laying on a table beside the bed in the master bedroom. Staging a property helps prospective buyers visualize living there. It finishes the process you started with the three C’s— clean it up, clear the clutter, and make cosmetic improvements.
5. Only Buyers Determine “Market Value”
⌂ MARKET VALUE is determined by the price buyers are willing to pay
in today’s market.
⌂ Buyers will compare your house to other available properties and they don’t care:
WHAT YOU PAID
WHAT YOU NEED
WHAT YOU
WANT
WHAT YOUR NEIGHBOR SAYS
WHAT ANOTHER AGENT SAYS
WHAT YOU PAID FOR UPGRADES
⌂ Buyers also demand that price and condition match. This is a critical factor in the way they determine value.
PREPARING YOUR HOUSE TO SELL
Getting top dollar for your house begins with understanding how to see your house through the eyes of a buyer. To be a successful seller you must have your house looking its best!
ACCEPTING A NEW MINDSET.
A magical metamorphosis occurs the moment you decide to sell your property. The “home” you love so dearly turns into a “house”. This shift in vocabulary is part of letting go, i.e., the emotional detachment process that every seller must experience sooner or later. Home is where you heart is. A House, on the other hand, is just a commodity that must compete in the open market.
You are getting ready to sell a house!
Most people don’t really see their houses after they have lived there for a while. They don’t notice the effects of gradual wear and tear and junk accumulation. Little stuff to the seller. Not so little stuff to a potential buyer!
If you make the right improvements when preparing your house to sell, you increase the odds of selling it quickly for top dollar. If, conversely, you do nothing at all, or if you make the wrong changes to your house, you waste the time and money you spent, prolong the sale, and risk the probability of a much lower sales price.
CREATING CURB APPEAL
Most buyers make snap judgments about your house. And their first impression, good or bad, is usually lasting. Buyers generally decide if they want to go inside within 20 seconds of viewing the external attractiveness (curb appeal) of your house. No matter how magnificent the inside of your house appeared in the photos, many buyers will drive by without even stopping (or tell their agent they don’t want to go inside) if the curb appeal doesn’t say,” I’m loved, I’m cared for.”
EXTERIORS ATTRACT, BUT INTERIORS SELL
Curb appeal draws buyers into your house. But appealing well cared for interiors make the sale.
You don’t usually have to spend thousands of dollars on your house prior to putting up the For Sale sign. On the contrary, little things you do generally give the biggest increase in value. Concentrate on the three C’s-- Clean it up, clear the clutter, and make cosmetic improvements.
Clean, scrub and polish. Your range top, oven, refrigerator, microwave and other appliances must be spotlessly clean inside and out. Scour walls, floors, bathtubs, showers and sinks and mirrors until they sparkle.
Buyers will notice strong smells as soon as they walk through the door, and they will waste no time walking right back out. Eliminate any smoke, pet and mildew odors. Cleaning drapes, and carpet helps get rid of odors. Whether you do the work yourself or must hire someone, make sure you house is spotless and odorless.
2. Include an analysis of all market data and presents it in the form of powerful visuals with the accompanying analysis. These charts and graphs reveal the complete “story” of your specific market. You:
⌂ will see current market statistics including previous listing periods that incorporate DOM and OLP for up 2 ½ years prior to their closing date.
⌂ will see how these current trends affected sellers
⌂ will gain insight about adjustments sellers had to make to reach a sale.
⌂ will see what happened when sellers failed to adjust to the market
PROFESSIONAL STAGING
Staging Matters:
⌂ Properties that are staged, on average, sell in half the time of non-staged properties.
⌂ Clean, de-cluttered, well presented properties are perceived by buyer as having more value than other competing properties in that price range.
⌂ Staged properties bring a higher price.
YOUR HOUSE WILL PUT ITS BEST FOOT FORWARD. I know what it takes to make the terrific first impression that will get your house sold quickly, for the best price.
MY WRITTEN GUARANTEE
Our relationship is dependent on meeting and exceeding your needs and expectations
If I don’t do the things I have outlined in the Exclusive Listing Agreement and within the written
My 10+ Commitment, my Cancellation Agreement protects your right to end our relationship if you are disappointed—no questions asked.
I’LL GUARANTEE YOUR SATISFACTION IN WRITING.
At this time, Chart Master Reports are
completely unique to your specific market in two critical ways. They:
1. Include previous listing periods as far back as 2½ years, regardless of time between the listing periods. Chart Master analysis includes two key measurements: Original Listing Price (OLP) and Days on Market (DOM) ) over the entire history of the listing periods.
⌂ WHY THIS MATTERS. When properties have been previously listed, but have been off the Market, either as “Expireds” or “Withdrawns”, for 30 days or longer your MLS deletes Days on Market (DOM) and Original List Price (OLP) for those previous listing periods. Therefore, their reports include only DOM and OLP for the most current listing periods.
Not including DOM and OLP over the complete history of all listing periods presents an incomplete and unrealistic view of what is actually happening to sellers in the market.
Sellers risk the probability of
overpricing and experiencing a longer time on the market and a lower price upon sale.
At this time, Chart Master Reports are
completely unique to your specific market in two critical ways. They:
1. Include previous listing periods as far back as 2½ years, regardless of time between the listing periods. Chart Master analysis includes two key measurements: Original Listing Price (OLP) and Days on Market (DOM) ) over the entire history of the listing periods.
⌂ WHY THIS MATTERS. When properties have been previously listed, but have been off the Market, either as “Expireds” or “Withdrawns”, for 30 days or longer your MLS deletes Days on Market (DOM) and Original List Price (OLP) for those previous listing periods. Therefore, their reports include only DOM and OLP for the most current listing periods.
Not including DOM and OLP over the complete history of all listing periods presents an incomplete and unrealistic view of what is actually happening to sellers in the market.
Sellers risk the probability of
overpricing and experiencing a longer time on the market and a lower price upon sale.
7. Print Media and Ads Are Not Very Effective
⌂ Data compiled by The National Association of REALTORS® in 2012 showed
that buyers relied on print media and ads in only 2% of the time to locate the house they bought. Real Estate Agents accounted for 34%, the Internet 42%’, Signage 10%, and Friends, Neighbors, Referrals 6%.
8. A Selling Metamorphosis
⌂ A magical metamorphosis occurs the momet you decide to sell your property. The “home” you love so dearly turns into a “house”. This shift in vocabulary is part of letting go, i.e., the emotional detachment all sellers experience sooner or later. Home is where your heart
is. Houses, on the otherhand, are commodities sold on the open market.
YOU ARE GETTING READY TO SELL A HOUSE.
6. The FIRST 30 DAYS Your House Is On The Market Is When It Generates The Most Interest In The Real Estate Community And Among Potential Buyers.
⌂ The most offers are received and your house sells faster.
⌂ Highest price is obtained.
⌂ If your house is not priced for the market during this time, you miss the peak level of interest. Activity diminishes substantially after 30 days resulting in a longer time on market and a lower price.
Our Chart Master Quarterly Market Reports validate
this pricing concept with actual closed sales data.
8 PROVEN REAL ESTATE TRUTHS THAT NEVER CHANGE
1. Having An Agent Represent You Has Many Advantages:
⌂ Professional Representation.
The License Law requires that your best interest be paramount.
⌂ Expertise and Experience
You have a real estate specialist who can capably remove many challenges before
they actually appear and guide you through the complexities of the real estate transaction.
⌂ Objectivity.
Rather than will have both the pros and cons for all decisions allowing you to make informed, not emotionally based decisions.
⌂ Convenience.
Selling your house all by your self can become a part time job. You can continue with your life while your agent manages all of the details of the selling process
2. Not All Real Estate Agents Are Realtors®.
⌂ Only licensed agents who are members of the National Association of
REALTORS® can call themselves REALTORS®.
⌂ They must make a commitment to treat all parties honestly.
⌂ They must adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.
⌂ They are required to maintain a high level of real estate standards.
3. Overpricing Your House Has Many Disadvantages:
⌂ Many buyers won’t visit because they will think it’s out of their price range.
⌂ Takes longer to sell.
⌂ You lose valuable time, can’t sell within your needed time frame.
⌂ Makes your competition look better.
⌂ Stays on market too long---becomes “shopworn”
⌂ Buyers and agents alike lose interest.
⌂ Causes appraisal problems
⌂ Ends up selling below its market value due to all of the above.
Our Chart Master Quarterly Market Reports validate
the overpricing concept with actual closed sales data.
YOUR TOP “MUST DO’S”
Selling your house is a big deal. There are ever changing market conditions, financial conditions, laws, ethical practices, and practical considerations that you don’t want to learn by trial and error. It’s not worth the risk. The steps below are “must do’s” if you intend to be successful in your selling goals.
⌂ Before you make any decisions, you must take time to define your goals, wants, needs, and expectations. You must know the depth of their importance to you and their order of priority.
⌂ Determine the best price based for what’s going on in the market right now. If your number one priority is speed of sale or top dollar, then you must price for the market (buyers).
⌂ Prepare your property so that it is in top selling condition. Most of us focus on keeping our house comfortable for our personal life style and that may mean is it not always in top selling condition. Now you must look at your house from a Buyer’s point of view, not yours.
⌂ Implement time proven, research based marketing strategies. You must make certain that
the marketing strategies used to sell your house are directed at the largest number of potential
buyers and are proven to be the most effective for today’s market.
⌂ Make it easy and pleasant to show your house. Real estate agents love nothing better than to know that your house is always in top showing condition when they bring their buyers.
When you leave for work, and/or school you must always make sure you house is “showing ready”.
⌂ Have your house pre-inspected. One of the most discouraging and frustrating situations is to find out after you have negotiated your best price, that the buyer upon inspection, has returned with a laundry list of repairs they want done in order to continue with the sale. So many sales are lost at this point. Even if you are confident in the condition of your house, you must pre-inspect to gain professional insight into what a buyer’s inspector might find and have the opportunity to either make the repairs or price for the conditions.
⌂ Consider having your house appraised by an independent appraiser.
An appraisal done by an independent appraiser is the best method of determining the worth of your house in today’s market and an excellent way to help you set a realistic price. This action does not completely mitigate the risk that a future appraisal can come in lower than the purchase price and delay or stop your sale, but it does help with your pricing choices and provides valuable insight into the criteria a mortgage lender appraiser will be using to evaluate your house for a loan. These two factors alone should put it on you “must do” list.
GIVE IT “EYE” APPEAL MAKE THE INSIDE SPARKLE
Curb Appeal will get the buyer to come in, but it’s what on the inside that makes the sale. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be cleaned, scrubbed and polished so that the buyer sees your house in its best light.
KITCHEN
No room in the house has greater impact on the buyer than the kitchen. It should sparkle and gleam.
□ Oven, cook tops and ventilating hood should be spotlessly cleaned, inside and out.
□ Replace any badly worn flooring.
□ Scour walls, floors, sinks and fixtures until they shine.
□ Clean and polish cabinets and drawer fronts. Consider professionally painting dull, dark cabinets.
□ Remove toasters, coffee makers, can openers and other clutter from counter tops to make counter space and room look larger.
□ Remove all photos and magnets from refrigerator front.
□ Wash the windows.
□ Remove any wallpaper of unique color and design and replace or paint with neutrals that will appeal to more buyers.
□ Repair any dripping faucets and slow running drains.
□ Replace any small ineffective light fixtures. Poor lighting makes the kitchen gloomy and uninviting.
BATHROOM
Next to the kitchen, it’s the second most important room in the house. The condition of the
bathroom(s) speaks volumes to the buyer about the overall condition of the house.
□ Scour tile walls, floors, bathtubs, sinks, toilets and shower stalls until they shine. Remember to wipe down tiles, sinks and shower doors daily.
□ Use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, tiles, bathtubs, and sinks.
□ Replace old caulking around bathtubs and faucets. Replace any missing grout between tiles and clean thoroughly to remove dirt stains and mildew.
□ Keep all mirrors shinning.
□ If bathtub drains too slowly, unclog.
□ Clean and polish all cabinet and drawer fronts.
FIREPLACES
□ Remove any old ashes.
□ Polish fireplace tools, screens and doors. Stack logs neatly.
LIVING AREAS
□ Wash interior windows. Make sure windows open and close properly.
□ Have walls in top condition. Repair hairline cracks and nail pops. If any bookcases, drapery rods, window treatments, or fixtures are going with you, remove and repair walls before placing the house on the market.
4. Research By The National Association Of Realtors® Shows That “Market Value” Pricing Attracts The Most Buyers And That Most Buyers Buy Within “Market Value”---- Not Above It.
⌂ 60% of buyers who want to buy a house with your amenities, in your location will visit when your house is priced within market value.
⌂ Only 30% visit when your house is priced 10% above market. This means that
70% 0f buyers that could buy your house won ’t even see it .
⌂ Keeping abreast of current “market conditions” and adjusting your price accordingly
will help you attract the most buyers and reach a faster sale for the highest dollar.
GIVE IT CURB APPEAL
Getting top dollar for your house requires seeing your house through the eyes of a prospective buyer. It’s the little things you do that enhance the value to the buyer. The following checklist will give you an idea of what should be done to create that first impression that says I’m loved and cared for.
EXTERIOR
□ Pressure wash to brighten color and remove mildew and dirt build-up.
□ Paint all faded siding, window trim, and shutters.
□ If paint color does not conform to neighborhood norm- repaint in appropriate color.
□ Repair (fill nail pops) or replace and repaint all damaged, delaminated siding.
□ Paint the front door in order to brighten appearance upon approach.
□ Repair or replace all rotten or damaged wood around window sills and doors.
□ Check all gutters and downspouts—clean and replace if necessary.
□ Replace all broken, cracked window panes and torn screens.
□ Wash the windows to remove dirt, cobwebs and insect nest.
□ Check mailbox and replace if broken or dilapidated.
□ Replace exterior light fixture if outdated or damaged.
SIDEWALKS/DRIVEWAYS
□ Repair all cracks in walkways and driveways (pour dry repair mix into cracks, sweep away excess, sprinkle liberally with water.)
□ Pressure wash sidewalks and driveways to remove built-up dirt stains and mildew.
□ Edge and trim the lawn next to sidewalks and driveways.
LAWNS
□ Keep lawn freshly mowed and trimmed. In the fall of year, clear lawn of fallen leaves weekly.
□ Remove toys, bicycles, wagons, garden hoses from lawn.
□ Re-seed or sod bare unsightly areas in lawn.
□ Keep lawn edged next to curb areas.
SHRUBBERY
□ Remove or replace any dead shrubs, hedges, and trees.
□ Trim all shrubs and scraggly bushes. Keep shrubbery below level of window to avoid blocking light.
□ Skirt any trees that block view of house.
□ Add color and charm with seasonal flowers in pots or along beds.
DECKS/PATIOS
□ Pressure wash decks and patios.
□ Replace rotten wood, repair loose rails, reseal deck if necessary.
□ Edge the lawn along patio.
Clear out the clutter. Clutter can reduce your house’s value. Clear away kitchen counters and keep dirty dishes out of the sink. Eliminating clutter and excess furniture makes rooms appear larger. Recycle those stacks of old magazines and newspapers you have been saving for no good reason. Dump all that junk you’ve accumulated over the years in your attic and basement.
Closet space sells houses! Get rid of all those clothes you don’t wear any more. Clean those closets out. Organize them. Make them look large and roomy. Do the same with built-in drawers. Like it or not, serious buyers will inspect your closets and drawers.
Make cosmetic improvements. Painting isn’t expensive if you do it yourself, but be careful that the job isn’t poorly done, and be careful when selecting colors. Avoid bold colors with strong visual impact. Stick to soft whites and other neutral colors that won’t clash with most prospective buyer’s taste. If your finished basement is dark and gloomy, paint the walls and ceiling a light color.
Pay attention to everything anywhere in your house that could cause a buyer to “reduce your price”. Find them and repair them before you put it on the market. Look for any hairline cracks over doors or windows and nail pops in sheet rock. Locate any ceiling stains and repair the source of the leak. Check for windows with cracked panes or that do not open and shut properly. Watch for doors that stick, don’t close or slide properly. Observe bathrooms for signs of mildew, rust stains in sinks and toilets, missing tiles or grout, inadequate caulking around tubs. Check for drippy faucets, slow draining sinks and tubs, broken mirrors. Make certain that all appliances that remain with the house are in proper working order.
Remember. Buyers consider any of the above problems a sign of poor maintenance. More often than not they are correct. Their solutions---either don’t buy or reduce the price by thousands.
STAGING
Staging a house goes way beyond your efforts to make it look neat, clean, and well cared for. Just as stagehands set the stage for Broadway productions, you can stage your house to create a production designed to WOW prospective buyers and set your house apart from the competition.
If you have ever visited a new home development and walked through the builder’s model home, you
know exactly what staging is. Builders have visual coordinators who do elaborate staging jobs:
placing furniture, using neutral colors for carpets, drapes, hanging artwork on walls, setting a beautiful table, placing a bowl of fruit on kitchen counter, having beautiful flower arrangement in the living area, and maybe an open book laying on a table beside the bed in the master bedroom. Staging a property helps prospective buyers visualize living there. It finishes the process you started with the three C’s— clean it up, clear the clutter, and make cosmetic improvements.
GIVE IT “BUY” APPEAL
STAGE IT
Staging your house finishes what you started with the Three Cs (clean up, clear out, cosmetic improvement). Staging is what helps a buyer visualize living here.
LIGHT
Bright, well lit houses seem more cheerful, inviting and spacious.
□ Keep draperies and blinds open to let in light.
□ Turn on all lamps in every room (even during the day) to brighten them.
□ Turn on all hallway and stairwell lights. Turn on lights in closets, over counter tops and cook tops.
□ At night, turn on porch lights and all outdoor lights and floodlights.
□ Install “stick lights” under cabinets to increase light over counter tops.
KITCHEN/DINING AREA
□ Add bowls of fresh fruit to counter tops and fresh flowers to table.
□ Create fragrant aromas: fresh baked cookies, brewed coffee, or a food scented jar candle from your local candle shop.
□ Set the table with attractive, color coordinated place mats, napkins, and china.
BATHROOMS
□ Bathrooms should sparkle- mirrors, tiles, sinks, faucets, toilets and floors.
□ Display fresh, color coordinated towels and shower curtains.
□ Remove all everyday toiletries from counter tops.
□ Place healthy, green plants on all counter tops.
□ Place new soap in all soap dishes.
□ Place fragrant, evergreen scented air freshener in all bathrooms.
FIREPLACE
□ Spotlight the fireplace. Polish all accessories until the gleam!
□ In summer, nestle fresh, fragrant pine boughs (in water) in fireplace.
□ In winter, stack logs neatly in fireplace or, if at home, have a fire in the fireplace.
COLLECTIONS
□ Pack away all photos, trophies, and collections, so buyer can focus on the house, not collections.
FURNITURE
□ Remove excess furniture to give rooms a larger feel.
□ Rearrange the furniture to give warm, intimate feel to room.
FLOWERS/PLANTS/MUSIC
□ Spot vases of colorful fresh flowers from you super market throughout the house.
□ Place healthy green plants on tables throughout the house to soften and refresh.
□ Soft background music soothes. No television!
□ Check ceiling for leak stains. Repair leak, repair and repaint ceiling.
□ Replace all burned out light bulbs.
□ Make sure all light switches work.
□ Make certain all sliding doors are in tracts. Rub tracts with paraffin or candle wax for easier movement.
□ Clean all carpets. Replace carpet if heavily worn, pet stained or damaged or if color unusually bold.
□ If you smoke or have pets, seek out professional products and spray daily.
□ Also clean air ducts if you are a heavy smoker to help remove odors.
□ Repaint walls if they are a unique or bold color or if they are dingy and drab. Use easy to work with neutral colors that most buyers can live with.
□ Clean switch plates, wall plates.
□ Make sure all flooring is clean and in good repair.
BASEMENT, ATTIC, GARAGE
□ Clean out attic, basement and garage and dispose of everything you are not going to move.
□ Box up everything you won’t need until you are settled in your new house. Consider renting a small storage space to store the items until time to move, especially if doing so will make you basement or garage look larger and less cluttered--or you attic storage look larger.
□ Make sure there is plenty of light on the stairs to the basement.
□ If your basement is dark and gloomy, paint the ceilings and walls a light color and put the highest
wattage bulbs you can safely use in all fixtures.
□ Repair cracks in the basement floor with concrete patch mix.
□ Vacuum garage floor and clean oil spills.
□ Stack items neatly so basement will look larger, but keep boxes far enough away from basement
walls for viewing.
Getting your house ready to put on the market takes time—about 2-3 weeks. If, after reading this, you feel you lack both the time and desire to do all of the prevention work yourself, hire competent people to help you. You can get a list of people who specialize in these areas from your real estate consultant. But whichever way you choose, if you want top dollar, you must put your house in top condition!
