Step 1: PAINT & CARPET
Paint is your best improvement investment for getting a greater return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell clean and neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood or the paint looks faded, it is time to paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated or an unusual color, you may need to seriously consider replacing it.
Step 2: CURB APPEAL
Your front yard immediately reflects the inside condition of your house to the buyer. People enjoy their yards. Make certain that the trees are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street. Have the grass mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept. Clean away debris. Remove parked cars. This all adds to curb appeal. If a buyer doesn’t like the outside, they may not stop to see the inside.
Step 3: CLEANLINESS
Most people are turned off by even the smallest amount of dirt or odor when buying a home. Sellers lose thousands of dollars because they do not adequately clean. If your house is squeaky clean, you will be able to sell your home faster and net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars more.
Step 4: PRICING
It is very important to price your property at a competitive market value right when you list it. The market is so competitive that even over pricing by a few thousand dollars can mean that your home will not sell. It’s interesting, but your first offer is usually your best offer. Eighty percent of the marketing is done when we decide on the price to list your home. If you are unwilling to list at current market value, you would be better off not putting it on the market at this time.
Step 5: EASY ACCESS
Top selling agents will not show your home if both the key and access are not readily available. They do not have time to run around town all day picking up and dropping off keys. They want to sell homes! The greatest way to show a house is to have a lockbox accessible to real estate agents.
Step 6: SHOWTIME
When your home is being shown, please do the following:
– Keep all lights on
– Keep all drapes and shutters open
– Keep all doors unlocked
– Leave soft music playing
– Take a short excursion with your children and pets
– Let the buyer be at ease and let the agents do their job
