Suggestions To Help Your Home Show Better
I know you have heard me say this before, but it's worth repeating. While your home is on the market,
you have got to start looking at it through a potential buyer's eyes. All of us get used to how our
home and yard looks and we don't even see the unsightly things any more.
IF YOUR HOME IS GOING TO GET A SECOND LOOK FROM BUYERS,
IT'S GOT TO MAKE A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION!
Nothing can give you a better payback than some elbow grease. Keeping the house clean, organized and
fresh smelling are the keys to a faster sale and higher offers. Here is a list of items that you
should consider before (and during) the time your house is on the market.
SPRUCE UP THE OUTSIDE
PAINT: Few things you can do will enhance the
salability of your house quite as much as painting the outside. Before painting, scrape or
water-blast any blistered or peeling paint; repair gutters and downspouts; and replace wood showing
dry rot. Wood, trim, gutters and wrought iron should receive primary attention.
YARD: Mow and trim the lawn. Weed flowerbeds;
remove or replace dead plants or trees. Water regularly during the growing season. Make sure that no
underlying plastic is exposed, that rocks and sand are tidy and that weeds and grass are removed.
FENCE: A few missing stakes or slate are real
eyesores to buyers. Yet usually they are inexpensive and easy to fix. Repair, paint, or stain as
necessary.
ROOF: Remove any visible debris or toys.
Straighten the TV antenna if necessary. Remove any tree branches bearing on the roof.
SPRUCE UP THE INSIDE
WALLS: As with the exterior, painting indoors
will pay dividends out of all proportion to the time and effort spent. Wallpaper should be clean and
adhere smoothly to walls. Patch all major holes in wallboard and plaster. Loose handrails on
stairways should be secured firmly to walls. Clean or paint air-vent covers.
FLOORS: Repair or replace missing or damaged
pieces of tile; polish if needed. Repair of a loose stair place or loose carpeting on a stairway is
top priority.
CARPETS: Steam cleaning is the best answer
for soiled carpets; shampooing seldom does the job where showability is concerned. If pet odors are
present, clean the carpet some time before your home is placed on the market to be sure the odors
have been eliminated. Loose carpet should be anchored properly.
A SPACIOUS LOOK: One of the best and least
expensive ways to improve the showability of your home is to open up as much space as possible.
Openness stimulates positive feelings in buyers. Overstuffed rooms or closets give the impression of
being smaller than they really are. You can't change the size of what you have, but you can try to
present it in a pleasing way.
BATHROOMS: Few places in the home can get so
dirty so fast and yet few things will "unsell" a house as fast as dirty baths. Vanity, sink, faucet
hardware, and mirror are the focal points. But don't forget other potential problems: soap residue
in the shower, a moldy shower curtain, accumulated dirt in the track of sliding shower door, soiled
or missing grout, stained toilet bowls and dirty or battered bathmats.
SNIFF OUT ODORS
WET TOWELS AND WASHCLOTHS: Residents of a home
frequently aren't aware of what a potential source of bad odor these are. Replace all used towels
with fresh ones before a showing.
SOILED CLOTHES: When the house is being shown,
keep dirty laundry out of the living area; move it to the utility room, garage or storage area. This
applies especially to a diaper pail.
TIPS ON SHOWING
LIGHT: Open all draperies unless there is an
objectionable view. In most rooms you should turn on lights for a bright and cheerful look. Lamps
and indirect lighting are preferable, but use overhead lights if that's all there is in a room.
PETS: Get them out of the house, if not off
the property. Some people don't like dogs, and nobody likes muddy paw prints on a clean suit or
dress. Cats can be just as objectionable to the person who doesn't like them or is allergic to them
and invariably a cat will single out the cat hater to use as a rubbing post.
If you have a problem in your home, don't mask it. A common example is the homeowner who
spray paints a ceiling to cover water stains caused by a leaking roof. If you have a major
problem, whether you intend to correct or not correct, be candid about it. Sure, some people
will be turned off by the prospect of a major repair, but most buyers who otherwise like the
home will be philosophical about a problem openly displayed. Usually they will discount the
price they offer by far less than the cost of the repair.
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