3.HOW TO PREPARE YOUR PROPERTY
It's time to get your home in "showing and selling" condition.
Most of us don't keep our homes in the condition it would need to be in to
sell. Over the years those boxes in the corner of the garage just seem to
multiply on their own. Things have broken that we just never get around to
fixing and some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact that they
will always be this way. It is this frame of mind that you have to break out
of in order to get your house ready to show. How your home looks will have
an immense impact on how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full
market value for it.
First impressions are very important and you only get to make one. Your real
estate agent, who is interacting in the marketplace every day, can assist
you in approaching your home from the buyer's standpoint. What needs to be
changed to make a good first impression? This may mean that all you do is
prune the trees and shrubs. On the other hand, it may mean that you completely
repaint the house, inside and out. Do a "curb to door" check. Give the potential
buyers a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between the buyer
and the true appeal of your home the better. Keep in mind that over time we
become accustomed to our surroundings. What's normal for you may be detrimental
to the buyer.
Make your home look as spacious as possible. Organize your closets and kitchen
cabinets, and if you have things stored in the attic or basement, make sure
they are presentable. If you are showing during the day, pull back your curtains
and drapes to show how bright and cheery your home is. If you are showing
at night, turn on all of the lights to create a warm and welcoming environment
for the prospective buyers. A home that is marked with your personality and
style may be harder to sell. You might even consider such things as removing
obvious clues to your political affiliation and tucking away any biased literature
that may be visible. This will reduce distractions and help the buyers to
visualize the home as their own.
