Giving your home the "On-The-Market" Makeover

You live in your home for comfort, but you need to sell your home like it is a model!  Here are some helpful hints we'd like to share with you that we've gathered from Certified Residential Specialists from around the country.

Before The Showings Begin:
First impressions are lasting impressions.  The exterior of your home often determines how buyers will view the interior, so:

• Make sure the front entrance is clean and inviting.
• Paint or replace your front door if it is faded or worn.
• Add some paint to shutters, trim, and any other outside feature showing signs of wear.
• Plant seasonal flowers in front to add a touch of color and friendliness.
• Keep the lawn mowed, bushes trimmed, walkways edged.  Green up any brown spots in the lawn.  Replace dead trees and brushes.  Trim off dead parts from thriving plants.
• If teenagers have painted their room in a "custom" motif, it would be better to repaint in a neutral color.

Beauty Is More Than Skin Deep:
Buyers often see the surface condition of your property as a sign of what's underneath, so:

• Keep windows and floors clean.
• Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall.
• Repair worn or damaged woodwork.
• Repaint scarred or dirty walls in a neutral color.
• Steam clean carpet or replace, if necessary.
• Repair loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches and other minor flaws.
• Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers.
• Scrub grout between tiles on floors, counters, tub and bath enclosures.  Re-grout or re-seal where necessary.
• Scrub door knobs and light switch plates.
• If you smoke, try to rid your property of any cigarette odor.
• Remember, buyers will deduct $$thousands off the price for items that only cost $$hundreds to fix!

Accentuate The Positive:
Try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes, including:

• Always open window coverings to let light in during the showing.
• Remove all unnecessary clutter throughout to better display spacious rooms (consider storage or a garage sale to dispose of extraneous items, or you could donate them to a local charity and take a tax deduction if your itemize your taxes).
• Arrange all your rooms neatly and remove excess furniture.
• Keep clean, fresh towels in the bathroom.
• Use candles or a mild air freshener to give rooms a pleasant scent.

Put Your Property In The Best Light:
Strategically lighting your property, even during daytime showings, can create a cozy mood and highlight positive attributes in each room, so:

• Avoid the use of overhead lighting that makes the rooms look washed out and lifeless.
• Be creative and arrange lamps to help smaller rooms seem larger, and large rooms more intimate.  Turn the lamps on for showing, even in the daytime.
• Use lighting to highlight the "living areas" if your home, such as a pair of chairs near a fireplace, or a table in a breakfast area.
• Put the spotlight on the strengths and potential of your home.
• Create the right mood and atmosphere given the room's function, color scheme, etc.
• Accent the positive aspects and unique features of each area of your home.
• Define the space.
• Bring the room to life.

Leave The Selling To The Professional:
Buyers often feel uncomfortable in the presence of a homeowner, so:

• Try not to be present during showings and try to take all pets with you.
• If you are home, never apologize for the appearance of your home.
• Only the REALTOR® should discuss any objections and subjects such as price, terms, possession, and other factors with the buyers.
• Do not correct the REALTOR¨ in front of the buyer, but if he mis-states a material fact regarding the home, tell him later in private.

Keep The Disturbances Down:
Potential homebuyers have a lot to take in, so minimize the distractions:

• Pipe classical, jazz, or soft rock music, but keep the volume low.
• If possible, turn off the ringer on your phone during showings.
• Keep cats, dogs, litter boxes, and feeding dishes out of the way, preferably out of the house.
• Ask children to play outside, if the weather permits, or take them for a treat while the house is being shown.
• Turn off all TV's.

Create A Homey Atmosphere:
Buyers try to picture themselves and their family living in your home, so:

• Create a pleasant aroma by baking cookies or bread, or placing bread in a warm oven on the day of the showing.
• Keep the heat or air conditioner at comfortable levels.  In the summer months, keeping your air conditioner on will tend to make a buyer spend more time in your home and can make a difference.
• If you have a fireplace, light it during the wintertime showings.

Have Records Available:
Even if a buyer does not study them, having records available can make it clear you are conscientious and have nothing to hide:

• Have copies of your gas, electric, and water bill from the last 12 months available.
• Be ready to show all home improvement and repair bills.  A new air conditioner in a resale home will go a long way to alleviate fears buyers may have about buying an older home.