WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015
Thinking of putting your home on the market? Well, before you call a realtor (and we hope that realtor is us!), here are a few useful tips to ensure your home not only sells quicker, but brings you more dollars!
*A fresh coat. Do you have 30-year-old wallpaper in the living room? Maybe cracked, peeling paint in the garage? It's amazing how painting a room makes it look vibrant and fresh, plus there's not a lot of out-of-pocket expense to you.
*Flooring. Okay, that '70s style shag carpet in the bedroom has got to go! Sure, new carpet will set you back some bucks, but look at it this way: spend $2,000 on flooring now and move your home quickly. . .or let your home sit on the market as is, costing you countless dollars!
*Window coverings. If you've got worn-out, even dirty, drapes over your windows, get rid of them. Think about replacing them with window shutters or blinds, which look neutral, neat, and nice.
*Clutter. Do you have stacks of newspapers or magazines piled up in a room? Maybe a corner or closet loaded down with board games? Overflowing closets? Overflowing toy boxes? De-clutter! Nothing chases buyers away faster than clutter; throw out the newspapers and magazines, and get a storage unit while the house is on the market to store all the excess possessions. Remember: neat and tidy sells!
*Gleaming. While your home is on the market, make your entire family commit to keeping the bathrooms clean. A grungy, dirty bathroom will send a potential buyer out the door! Clean up soap scum and hard water stains, keep those toilets, sinks, and faucets gleaming, and replace worn-out, grimy shower curtains. The same pertains to the kitchen sink, stove top, oven, and counter tops: gleaming = sold!
*The portrait gallery. You may be proud of all the family portraits, senior portraits, and montages of all the kids, but when it comes to selling a home, this is a rule of thumb to follow: Less is more. Keep wall decorations to a bare minimum while your home is on the market; the same holds suit for too many pictures on end tables and shelves.
*Replacements. Is that 25-year-old dishwasher worn out? Is the toilet in the guest bathroom old and constantly running? Part with the cash to replace worn-out fixtures in your home before you put the house on the market. In the long run it will save you from having your home just sit without a buyer. Remember that buyers thoroughly dislike to be making mental checklists of everything they'll have to repair or replace as they look at your home. Keep that checklist to a bare minimum!
*Curb appeal. How your home looks on the outside is a buyer's first impression. Make it a good one! Does the trim need to be painted? Perhaps some guttering replaced? Some damaged siding replaced? The flower bed cleared of weeds and leaves? Make the necessary repairs and improvements, and have a Contract of Sale on your kitchen table in no time!
Remember, your goal is to have buyers saying to themselves, "We can move into this home tomorrow!" A clean, tidy, well-maintained home says, "Buy me!" Good luck!
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