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Though there are not any "quick fixes" that will
guarantee a buyer every time, there are several steps that every home
seller should take before selling his or her home. The following
is a list of the top ten tips that will make a home more salable:
1. Make the most of that first impression.
A well-manicured lawn, trees and shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome
potential home buyers. Sweep the walk, hose off the driveway, rake
the rock or mow the grass. The better the curb appeal your home
has, the more likely a buyer will want to see more of it.
2. Clean, clean, clean. Clean up
in the bedrooms, the bathroom (yeah, that means you may have to start
squeeging the shower door) and the kitchen. Dust the baseboards,
wipe the fan blades and AC vents clean and repaint where the paint is
fading. A buyer would rather see how great your home looks than to
hear how great it could look with a little work.
3. Fix the faucets and change the bulbs.
Dripping water discolors the sinks and suggests faulty or worn-out
fixtures. Burned-out bulbs indicate that the seller is too lazy to
fix something as minor as a light bulb (so what does he do when there is
a major repair that needs to be done?). The little problems may
lead a buyer to think that there are bigger problems waiting to be
discovered.
4. Check the doors. If a door,
cabinet or closet stick, you can be sure that it will stick in the
buyer's mind as well. Take the few seconds to oil the hinge, plane
the surface, or WD-40 the lock. A little effort can make all of
the difference.
5. Make space. Every potential
buyer is looking for spacious comfort in their new home. Take two
suitcases and walk throughout your home. If you bump into
something, try removing any extra furniture. Also, buyers want
storage, show them how much space your home really has. Make sure
that your closets and attic space are neat and organized. Box up
any unwanted clothes or donate them to a charity.
6. Add a plant. Brighten up your
bathrooms, living room and kitchen with fresh flowers. Flowers add
a splash of color, break up the monotony and can give the room a fresh,
fragrant smell.
7. Polish the throne room.
Bathrooms sell homes so make sure that they sell yours. Repair any
dingy or black caulking around the sinks and tubs. Scrub away the
water deposits from the shower heads and faucets. Consider
replacing your everyday towels, mats and shower curtains for new ones
for added allure.
8. De-personalize your home.
Buyers don't care how many porcelain figurines you have displayed on the
mantle or the photos of the seven kids for the last twenty years.
Let the buyer see the house, not the home you live in.
9. Watch the pets. Many buyers
have allergies to cats and dogs. Pet hair can trigger sneezing and
turn away a prospective buyer. Consider steam cleaning the carpets
and frequently vacuuming to keep the dander down. If a prospective
buyer comes by to view the home, consider keeping the pets outside or at
a neighbor's house.
10. Think smell. The sense of smell
plays as important of a role as how the home appears. Nothing
ruins a sale faster than an obnoxious aroma permeating the walls of a
home. By the same token, few things are as pleasant as walking
into a home that smells fresh and clean. If you smoke, consider
taking it outside. If you cook with a lot of garlic, consider
changing your menu until after the sale. Invest in a couple of
bottles of Lysol and potpourri. The next time you vacuum the rugs
and carpets, use a carpet deodorizer (such as Carpet Fresh) to lift
embedded smells. A bad smell might just ruin your
day, but try not to overdo it.
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