|
|
| Step 3 - Property
Preparation |
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
