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It's
time to get your home in "showing and selling" condition. Most of us
don't keep our homes in the condition it would need to be in to sell.
Over the years those boxes in the corner of the garage just seem to
multiply on their own. Things have broken that we just never get around
to fixing and some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact
that they will always be this way. It is this frame of mind that you
have to break out of in order to get your house ready to show. How your
home looks will have an immense impact on how quickly it sells and
whether or not you get full market value for it.
First
impressions are very important and you only get to make one. Your
real estate agent, who is interacting in the marketplace every day, can
assist you in approaching your home from the buyer's standpoint. What
needs to be changed to make a good first impression? This may mean that
all you do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may
mean that you completely repaint the house, inside and out. Do a "curb
to door" check. Give the potential buyers a clear path to enter the
home. The fewer obstacles between the buyer and the true appeal of your
home the better. Keep in mind that over time we become accustomed to
our surroundings. What's normal for you may be detrimental to the
buyer.
Make
your home look as spacious as possible. Organize your closets and
kitchen cabinets, and if you have things stored in the attic or
basement, make sure they are presentable. If you are showing during the
day, pull back your curtains and drapes to show how bright and cheery
your home is. If you are showing at night, turn on all of the lights to
create a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective buyers. A
home that is marked with your personality and style may be harder to
sell. You might even consider such things as removing obvious clues to
your political affiliation and tucking away any biased literature that
may be visible. This will reduce distractions and help the buyers to
visualize the home as their own.
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