Home Buying Advice
Getting Your Home Ready to Sell
Any marketing or sales professional will tell you that the packaging is just as important as the product you are selling. As you get ready to put your home on the market, you may want to spruce a few things up to attract potential buyers. Remember that no touch is too little. After all, you may be selling the steak, but you're also selling the sizzle.
Curb Appeal
A home that's visually appealing has a better chance of attracting buyers. Now that you have the home listed in a few newspapers and real estate publications, and the sign is in the yard, you have to be ready for the buyers that drive by your place for a look. Here are a few simple things that you can do to cosmetically enhance your property:
- Keep the lawn mowed, the trees clipped, and the shrubs maintained. Pull the weeds and trim the hedges.
- How do the driveway, walkways, and foundation look? If there are cracks, you may want to repair them. If the driveway is in bad shape with cracks and deep oil stains, resurfacing or sealing may be in order.
- Don't do windows? Well, you may want to now. Wash the windows and check the casings and shutters for a possible touch-up. It's amazing what a quick paint job can do to your home's appearance.
- Clean up those gutters!
- Keep the yard clear of any tools, toys, or equipment. You never know when the buyer will be driving by.
- Take advantage of the spring or summer season by planting or hanging a few flowers out front. It adds a little color to the picture.
Now stand by the curb and take a look at all that you have done. Try to look at your home through the eyes of the shopper. How does it look? If you're happy with what you see, there is a good chance the potential buyer will be enticed. ...And that means you have to get the inside ready.
Moving Indoors
Now that you've successfully lured the buyer into your home, you'll need to impress them with a clean and orderly house. You don't need to spend a bundle of money, either. Doing a little cleaning of the tiles, windows, floors, and bathrooms will go a long way. Make sure you have clean filters for your air conditioner. Consider cleaning the carpets or perhaps doing a little painting, especially if you're a smoker or have pets.
Removing some of the clutter inside is another consideration to make. If you have a lot of furniture or personal items around, you may want to consider putting a few things in storage for a while. This will give the interior of the house a newer and more spacious look.
Just before potential buyers arrive to look at your house, consider these final touches for icing on the cake. Fresh flowers and scented potpourri will appeal to their senses. Some soft music is a good idea as well. There's also a lot of truth to the old adage that baking bread or cinnamon rolls will make buyers feel at home.
You will find that a little elbow grease (and not necessarily a lot of money) will go a long way in selling your home. After all, a home is the biggest investment most people will ever make. They'll want to be sure that the previous owners took care of their investment.
Back to Home Buying Advice
|
