 20
Tips For Selling Your Home
As a homeowner, you can play
an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the
following steps, you’ll help your RE/MAX Sales Associate sell your home faster,
at the best possible price.
The easiest and most
reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to enlist a quality home
service professional. The right professional can help you get everything in
order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning - so you
can stay focused on more important things. Find a contractor now.
Make
the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn,
neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects. So does a
freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. If it’s autumn,
rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles
between prospects and the true appeal of your home - the better. Find a
landscaper or painter to help.
Invest
a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here’s your chance to clean
up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen. If
your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor
redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. If you’re
worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house
ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your home really looks
than hear how great it could look "with a little work." Find a cleaning service
or handyman to help.
Check
Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the
nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing. Burned out
bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems
detract from what’s right with your home. Find a plumber, electrician or
general contractor to help.
Don’t
Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors
stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a prospect’s mind.
Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them
away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a closing. Find a
handyman to help.
Think
Safety
Homeowners learn to live
with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs, festooned
extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your
residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
Make
Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers
are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’re looking for
storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of
unnecessary items. Find a contractor to help.
Consider Your Closets
The better organized a
closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those unwanted clothes
and donate them to charity.
Make
Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let
them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the tubs and
showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower
curtains. Find a contractor to help.
Create
Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the
cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess
furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
Open up
in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull
back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how bright and cheery your
home is.
Lighten
up at Night
Turn on the excitement by
turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing your home in
the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
Avoid
Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel
like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather than giving
your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the
company present to a minimum.
Watch
Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great
companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a talent for
getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at
least out of the way.
Think
Volume
Rock-and-roll will never
die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show your
home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
Relax
Be friendly, but don't try
to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of
distraction.
Don't
Apologize
No matter how humble your
abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect volunteers a
derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced RE/MAX
Associate handle the situation.
Keep a
Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as
well as you do. But RE/MAX Sales Associates know buyers - what they need and
what they want. Your RE/MAX Associate will have an easier time articulating the
virtues of your home if you stay in the background.
Don't
Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view
your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no
longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
Defer
to Experience
When prospects want to talk
price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to an expert - your
RE/MAX Sales Associate.
Help
Your Agent
Your RE/MAX Associate will
have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled through his or
her office. You'll appreciate the results!
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