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 Buying Tips |
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| Selling Tips |
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Helpful Hints
To Stage Your Home
It can be difficult to look objectively at your own house. You are busy living in it day-to day and you don’t see it the way a prospective buyer would. For example, the garbage container next to the front of the garage may be such a fixture that you don’t even notice it when you drive up to the house. Yet it might be the first thing the prospective buyer focuses on!
As real estate professionals, we’ve looked at and evaluated hundreds of homes, most of which were in the process of being bought and sold. Our experience has taught us that there are relatively easy, inexpensive things you can do to sell your house faster and for more money.
Curb Appeal
Curb appeal refers to what someone sees when they look at your house and yard. In the case of a prospective buyer, curb appeal is of utmost importance. If a person likes what she/he sees at first glance, a sense of positive anticipation will be created. If a person is turned off or disappointed at first glance, the probability that she/he will eventually make an offer on the house has decreased significantly – before she/he has even gotten out of the car!
Curb Appeal Checklist
Take a pencil and walk out to the street in front of your house. Position yourself where a prospective purchaser will first see your house. Look at the house from the purchaser’s point of view: What looks good? What looks bad? Go down the checklist and mark the items that need attention. Beside each item jot down a few words that indicate what you might do to make the item more appealing. Use the checklist as an organizational tool.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a nice looking yard. A yard that is neat, cheery and well maintained is a pleasure to look at.
Yard: ___Toys (tidy) ___ No Weeds/Litter ___ Garage Cans/Hose (put away) ___ Fences tidy/gates operational
Lawn: ___ Mow ___ Rake ___ Edge ___ Weed & Feed
Planting Areas: ___ Mulch ___ Water ___ Weed/Trim ___ Flowers/Pots (color spots)
Trees/Shrubs: ___ Prune ___ Water
Entry & Walkway: ___ Unclutter___ Sweep/Wash___ Touch- up Paint ___ Lights Work __ Doorbell Works
Driveway: ___ Clear of excess vehicles/objects ___ Room to park ___ Gravel drive – fill holes & rake ___ Concrete drive – sweep & wash ___ Garage door(s) work/look clean
Clutter
Clutter is distracting and unproductive when you are trying to sell your house. Once your home sells, you will need to pack it all up and move it anyway. So why not do some of it now? A good place to start uncluttering is the kitchen. Don’t forget to unclutter closets, storage spaces and the garage. Once you have your clutter packed, you need to store it. If you already have a secure, available space, use it. If you must use your garage for storage, unclutter and clean it first then stack your boxes neatly against one wall.
Make your house seem spacious, bright, and appealing to the potential buyer, who needs to be able to visualize his/her things in the house.
Cleanliness
Clean houses sell better for several reasons:
A clean house smells good. Never underestimate the sense of smell. It plays a powerful role in influencing people’s impressions and enthusiasm.
A clean house helps put the prospective buyer at ease so that she/he can focus on the features of your home.
A clean house represents work that the prospective buyer doesn’t have to worry about doing.
Lighting plays an important role in selling your house. The interior of the house should be bright and inviting. If your house is clean, the bright lighting won’t be illuminating dust and grime. It will help the buyer see that the house is, in fact, clean and appealing.
General Room Checklist
Clutter: ___ Collections stored ___ Limit personal photos, etc. on walls ___Disposed of accumulated newspapers, magazines, old shoes, etc.
Furniture: ___ Excess furniture stored (plenty of wall/ floor space should be visible) ___ Polished ___ Tastefully arranged
Flooring: ___ Sweep ___ Mop ___ Vacuum ___ Shampoo carpet ___ Wax/polish
Lighting: ___ Replace burned out bulbs warm white is best) ___ Clean shades/covers
Closets/Storage Areas: ___ Uncluttered ___ Organized ___ Doors/latches working
Driveway: ___ Clear of excess vehicles/objects ___ Room to park ___ Gravel drive
– fill holes & rake ___ Concrete drive – sweep & wash ___ Garage door(s) work/look clean
Kitchen Checklist
Cabinets: ___ Wash fronts/pulls ___ Unclutter ___ Clean under sinks/no leaks ___ Make sure pantry area is neatly organized, not over loaded
Counter Tops: ___ Store most items out of sight ___ items on counters are clean/tidy
___ thoroughly clean counter tops
Appliances: ___ Clean exterior ___ Refrigerator smells fresh ___ Clean oven
___ Clean or replace drip pans in stove
Wash: ___ Walls ___ Windows ___ Window sills ___ Curtains ___ Throw rugs ___ Kitchen towels, potholders, etc.
Floor:___ Clean ___ Wax, polish, etc. as appropriate
Lights: ___ Overhead ___ Oven light ___ Fan/hood light
Bathroom Checklist
Tub/Shower: ___ Clean ___ Glass door/track ___ Curtain ___ Shine Fixtures ___ Recaulk ___ No leaky plumbing ___ Eliminate mold/mildew
Toilet: ___ Clean ___ No leaking around base or pipes ___ Flushes well
Sink: ___ Clean ___ No dripping/leaking ___ Shine fixtures
Vanity: ___ Clean ___ Towels neatly hung ___Mirror clean ___ Drawers/cabinets organized & uncluttered ___ Items on counter top neatly organized
Medicine & Linen Cabinets: ___ Uncluttered ___ Clean ___ Organized
Walls: ___ Wash ___ Repaint if stained/dark/unappealing ___ Eliminate mold/mildew
Floor: ___ Clean ___ Wax/polish ___ Throw rugs clean & in good shape
Lights: ___ Bright ___ Fixtures clean 1
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1 Adapted from - Sell Your House Faster and for More Money
Presented by:
Kurstin Johnson, CRS, Qualifying Broker & Managing Member
Cathy Colvin, Certified Residential Specialist |
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