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12 Ways to "Dress your Home for
Success."
1.
Curb appeal is key. If you were a buyer, would you
be excited about going through the front door of your
home? Many a broker has had to cancel a showing because
buyers, upon seeing a house from the car, wanted to
keep driving past. A neat yard, bright flowers, a
clean pathway and an inviting front door create an
initial positive impression.
2. The
front door should be filled with life. Especially
welcoming is a new door mat. Door hardware should
be sparkling; the key should turn easily. Make sure
the doorbell works.
3.
What is the first thing your buyers will see and smell
when they open the front door? This room, its accessories
and its fragrance will be critical to your buyers'
first impressions. They may not yet be consciously
aware of it, but, at some level, the buyers have already
made a decision at this point as to whether your home
is on the list or off the list. If you lose them here,
it will be extremely difficult to win back their enthusiasm,
no matter how nice the rest of your home.
4.
If it's broken, fix it. Most buyers tend to overestimate
the cost of repairs, assuming it will cost 2-3 times
what it actually will to make them. If they remain
interested, buyers will deduct this amount from their
offers. More often, though, buyers assume evidence
of needed repairs suggests your home hasn't been well-maintained,
and their there are likely to be other problems they
can't see.
5.
When you know your home is going to be shown, open
all the draperies, turn on all the lights and leave
classical or other calming music playing in the background.
If showing agents have to do all this while their
with their buyers, they can't more fast enough to
stay ahead of them -- and dark, lifeless impressions
of your home will already have been made.
6.
Put away family photos. Remember, you're a home seller
now, not a homeowner. It's time to put away collections
that personalize your house. Try to make it easy for
buyers to picture your house as their own.
7.
If your home has patios and decks, make sure they're
not places to store junk. Consider these outdoor spaces
additional rooms that buyers will imagine themselves
using. Arrange them with patio furniture. If you have
a pretty yard or deck, make these inviting places
for prospective buyers to linger!
8.
Unmade beds, dishes in the sink, toilet seats up,
hair in the shower, and visible trash in the wastebaskets
are complete turnoffs for buyers. It's the hardest
thing to do as a seller, but don't leave your home
without putting it in show-perfect condition. The
ideal buyer may arrive an hour after you walk out
the door.
9.
The mechanical area is a surprisingly good place to
invest some elbow grease. Make this area sparkle like
a ship's engine room: be sure all the equipment is
dust-free and the walls painted (rather than the typical
drywall-taped look.) Consider giving the floor a coat
of paint. When the guts of your home look well maintained,
it inspires confidence in the buyers, prompting them
to think you have taken excellent care of your property.
10.
Garages are often the last place given attention by
sellers, and this is a major mistake. These spaces
should be immaculate, well organized, and look finished.
11.
Many sellers ask whether making certain home improvements
would facilitate selling their property faster or
for more money. The best place to invest money before
putting your home on the market is in a fresh coat
of exterior and interior paint. As long as your color
choices are neutral, the impact of these efforts is
tremendous. Your property will seem fresh and new
to buyers and superior to most of the competition
they will also be seeing.
12.
If you do nothing else, be sure your property is spotless,
organized and squeaky clean.
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