| Preparing Your Home For Sale |
Every seller wants their home to sell at the best price. Well, it's not luck that makes that happen. It's careful planning and knowing how to professionally spruce up your home that will encourage buyers to make a good offer. This is not intended to be a definitive guide but it might give you some helpful ideas.
Here are some tips on how to prepare your house for sale.
Disassociate Yourself from Your Home
Say to yourself, "This is not my home; it is a house -- a product to be sold.The trick is to make the mental decision to "let go" of your emotions and focus on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
Picture yourself handing over the keys and envelopes containing appliance warranties to the new owners!
Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
De-Personalize
Pack up those personal photographs and family heirlooms. Buyers can't see past personal effects, and you don't want them to be distracted. You want buyers to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there!
You want buyers to think to themselves, "I can really see myself living here."
De-Clutter!
People collect an amazing quantity of junk. Consider this: if you haven't used it in over a year, you probably don't need it.
If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
Remove all books from bookcases.
Pack up those knickknacks.
Clean off kitchen counters.
Put essential items used daily in a small box that can be stored in a closet when not in use.
Think of this process as a head-start on the packing you will eventually need to do anyway.
Organise Bedroom Cupboards and Kitchen Cabinets
Neatly stack dishes and try to keep work surfaces free of too many things
Organise and clean interior of cupboards (You should always feel happy to open any cupboard to show the prospective buyer as some will be too nervous to open it them selves)
Turn coffee cup handles facing the same way.
Hang shirts together, buttoned and facing the same direction.
Line up shoes.
Rent Storage Unit or use garage space
Almost every home shows better with less furniture.
Remove pieces of furniture that block or hamper paths and walkways and put them in storage.
Since your bookcases are now empty, store them.
Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger.
Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around.
You don't want buyers scratching their heads and saying, "What is this room used for?"
Remove/Replace Personal Items
If you want to take window coverings, built-in appliances or fixtures with you, remove them now. If the chandelier in the dining room once belonged to your great grandmother, take it down. If a buyer never sees it, she won't want it. It is always best not to show items that you intend to take with you, if this is possible.
Make Minor Repairs
Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
Patch holes in walls.
Fix leaking taps, loose handels.
Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that jam.
Consider painting your walls neutral colours, especially if you have grown accustomed to purple or pink walls.
(Don't give buyers any reason to remember your home as "the house with the orange bathroom.")
Replace burned-out light bulbs. It always works well to use a higher wattage in smaller or darker rooms - 40 Watt is sometimes
not sufficient.
If you've considered replacing a worn bedspread or bathroom towels etc... This is good time to do it.
Make the House Sparkle!
Wash windows inside and out.
Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
Clean out cobwebs.
Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
Clean out the refrigerator.
Vacuum or mop floors daily.
Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades, air conditioners and light fixtures.
Bleach or renew dingy grout.
Replace worn rugs or remove large rugs that make floor space look smaller.
Hang up fresh towels.
Bathroom towels look great fastened with ribbon and bows.
Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odours are a no-no.
Scrutinize
Go outside and open your front door. Stand there. Do you want to go inside? Does the house welcome you?
Linger in the doorway of every single room and imagine how your house will look to a buyer.
Examine carefully how furniture is arranged and move pieces around until it makes sense.
Make sure window coverings hang level.
Make sure that “minimal” for coffee tables and occasional furniture is the order of the day.
Check Curb Appeal
If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
Mow the lawn and pull out weeds.
Paint where required walls and woodwork.
Plant flowers, small shrubs or group flower pots together.
Trim your hedges or cut back overgrown plants.
Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number or name and know how to find your house. Think about the best approach to your house!
They might want a quick look at the outside and surrounding area before they make an appointment to view the inside.
NB: In the interests of security Margaritagetaway does not give details of your location or address to any interested party
without first registering the individuals personal details, checking requirements and informing you about any person wishing to view your home.
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