Top 10 Tips that Will Sell a Home
Though there are not any "quick fixes" that will guarantee a buyer every time, there are several steps that every home seller should take before selling his or her home. The following is a list of the top ten tips that will make a home more salable:
1. Make the most of that first impression. A well-manicured la= wn, trees and shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome potential home buyers. Sw= eep the walk, hose off the driveway, rake the rock or mow the grass. The better= the curb appeal your home has, the more likely a buyer will want to see more of= it.
2. Clean, clean, clean. Clean up in the bedrooms, the bathroom (yeah, that means you may have to start squeeging the shower door) and the kitchen. Dust the baseboards, wipe the fan blades and AC vents clean and repaint where the paint is fading. A buyer would rather see how great your = home looks than to hear how great it could look with a little work.
3. Fix the faucets and change the bulbs. Dripping water discol= ors the sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out fixtures. Burned-out bulbs indica= te that the seller is too lazy to fix something as minor as a light bulb (so w= hat does he do when there is a major repair that needs to be done?). The little problems may lead a buyer to think that there are bigger problems waiting t= o be discovered.
4. Check the doors. If a door, cabinet or closet stick, you ca= n be sure that it will stick in the buyer's mind as well. Take the few seconds to oil the hinge, plane the surface, or WD-40 the lock. A little effort can ma= ke all of the difference.
5. Make space. Every potential buyer is looking for spacious comfort in their new home. Take two suitcases and walk throughout your home= . If you bump into something, try removing any extra furniture. Also, buyers want storage, show them how much space your home really has. Make sure that your closets and attic space are neat and organized. Box up any unwanted clothes= or donate them to a charity.
6. Add a plant. Brighten up your bathrooms, living room and kitchen with fresh flowers. Flowers add a splash of color, break up the monotony and can give the room a fresh, fragrant smell.
7. Polish the throne room. Bathrooms sell homes so make sure t= hat they sell yours. Repair any dingy or black caulking around the sinks and tu= bs. Scrub away the water deposits from the shower heads and faucets. Consider replacing your everyday towels, mats and shower curtains for new ones for a= dded allure.
8. De-personalize your home. Buyers don't care how many porcel= ain figurines you have displayed on the mantle or the photos of the seven kids = for the last twenty years. Let the buyer see the house, not the home you live i= n.
9. Watch the pets. Many buyers have allergies to cats and dogs. Pet hair can trigger sneezing and turn away a prospective buyer. Consider s= team cleaning the carpets and frequently vacuuming to keep the dander down. If a prospective buyer comes by to view the home, consider keeping the pets outs= ide or at a neighbor's house.
10. Think smell. The sense of smell plays as important of a ro= le as how the home appears. Nothing ruins a sale faster than an obnoxious aroma permeating the walls of a home. By the same token, few things are as pleasa= nt as walking into a home that smells fresh and clean. If you smoke, consider taking it outside. If you cook with a lot of garlic, consider changing your menu until after the sale. Invest in a couple of bottles of Lysol and potpourri. The next time you vacuum the rugs and carpets, use a carpet deodorizer (such as Carpet Fresh) to lift embedded smells. A bad smell might just ruin your day, but try not to overdo it.