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Revised: 03/11/08.

AT FIRST GLANCE

What does a pair of shoes tucked inside your front door say to a potential buyer?

How can you make your exterior paint look fresh without painting your whole house? And how can you make your house seem bigger without adding any square feet?

Inside these pages, you’ll find the answers, plus many other simple tricks to help sell your home fast.

Over the years, one thing has remained constant – presentation is everything!

But, don’t worry. You don’t have to go to extremes. These simple ideas cost little to nothing, yet they can pay off big in terms of helping you get the price you want when you want it.

A home is one of the biggest things you’ll ever buy – or sell I want to help you make the most of it.

Your home tour begins long before anyone sets foot inside the door. Grab their attention from the curb with these suggestions.

A fresh coat of exterior paint undoubtedly makes a house look better. If you can’t afford it, try painting only the front door and, if needed, the area around it. Missing the matching paint? Look for a switch plate or other item you can take to the paint store to be matched. 

Now’s the time to give up on all those half—dead plants you hoped would recover someday. Whether they’re in or out of your house, wilting plants with brown edges and dropping leaves detract from a clean look. Use this as your excuse to buy a few new ones with glossy green leaves. They’ll make your current home fresher and your next house feel more like home. 

Empty yards sell better than overgrown ones because they look bigger. Don’t be timid when you trim your shrubs and trees. Make your landscaping accent the house – not hide it.

When your house is on the market, water your lawn enough to keep it lush and green. If you have a sprinkler system, turn it on just before a showing to give your landscape a dewy, fresh shimmer and scent. A yard looks better moist than dry. You can also discourage exploration of messy areas by leaving certain sprinklers on.

The first thing your buyer will likely see is your driveway. Sweep away debris and get rid of old oil stains to make a nice, clean first impression. Liquid drain cleaner works on cement to make oil stains disappear. Just make sure you read all manufacturers’ warnings and use caution. 

Here’s a tip that will cost you only a few extra steps. Leave your car down the street so the Realtor has the best parking. The extra space and clean view of your driveway and garage make everything seem more spacious. Also, stash the toys, garbage cans and other obstacles out of site.               

FIRST IMPRESSIONS LAST 

Once you get your prospective buyers inside, here are tips to make your home stand out – including subconsciously!

Nothing says “welcome home” like the smell of something in the oven. Conjure up the same feelings of warmth and comfort by popping some ready made cookie or bread dough in the oven just before a showing. Remember, buyers’ perceptions of a home are based on more than what they see. Appeal to their nose as well as their eyes. 

Short on time? Try misting some vanilla air freshener or leaving out a few bowls of vanilla potpourri. The scent has a particularly broad appeal and makes buyers feel more at home.

A bright house looks larger, cleaner and more appealing. Maximize your light with new 100 watt bulbs in your lamps and fixtures. You’ll be surprised how it can make things feel open and airy, even without lots of windows or skylights. Remember to leave the lights on, if possible, before each showing.

In addition to using lamps to make your home bright, don’t forget to maximize your natural light. Always keep your curtains and blinds open. There’s only one exception. If your window faces an eyesore, keep it covered.

Your windows should be crystal clear, your screens in good shape and window sills free of dust or clutter. If your screens are tattered or full of holes, have them replaced. If that’s not possible, remove the screens entirely to maintain a clean appearance.

A few well-placed flowers will brighten any room. Even one or two fresh flowers in a vase make things look and smell nicer. Alternatively, buy some potted flowering plants that can do double duty – help you sell your current home and brighten your new one as well.

Why do you love your house? Share some of those feelings in a personal letter. Put it on nice stationery and leave personally signed copies where buyers won’t miss it. Talk about the schools, good neighbors, area shopping and your home’s history. Appeal to emotions and help your buyers see how great it is to live there.

Each time you head out the door, look around first. If it’s possible someone may come through your house, make sure they see everything at its finest. That means clothes off the floor and dishes out of the sink. No time for perfection? Get a few large plastic tubs to collect your odds and ends. Just don’t stash any messy piles where they’ll be easily discovered, like a closet or cupboard. 

Use the checklist in the back of this Report or make your own to help remember all these little last-minute tricks to turn up your home’s charm.

Always leave your house while a Realtor^® shows it to a prospective buyer. Buying a house is an emotional experience. Allow your buyers to really feel comfortable checking out your house by not being in it!

The same goes for your dog. If your four-legged friend might cause tension for someone uneasy around pets, take him with you. Don’t let anything take away from the overall emotional experience of touring your home.

SHINE IT UP

A little elbow grease goes a long way when preparing your house for market. Here are a few good places to focus your energy for maximum results.

It’s a fact that clean homes sell faster. When you list your home, have the carpets cleaned. Then leave a few pair of shoes by the front door – it’s a subtle message that you’re meticulous about the appearance of your home.

Kitchens count for a lot in the sale of your home. Make sure yours looks its best with sparkling clean appliances. Replace any broken knobs and use a dull knife edge to get grease and grime out of cracks and corners. If appliance colors don’t match, bring in a professional to paint them neutral. Paint costs you less than new appliances and adds dramatically to the overall impression of your kitchen.

Take a walk around your house looking for the details that might stand out to someone entering for the first time. Pay special attention to your fixtures. Don’t forget to wash glass globes on any lights and shine up the door knobs.

You may have only one guest, and they won’t take a dip, but show how much fun your pool can be by having it clean and ready to go – even if it’s winter. That means a clean, uncovered pool with all the furniture out and ready for guests. 

BIGGER IS BETTER

Your goal should be to make your home seem as spacious as possible. Here are five ways to get a clean, clutter-free look buyers like.

Having trouble getting your car in the garage? Take this opportunity to eliminate your old junk and organize everything else. Store what you can with family or friends. Your garage will appear larger and you’ll benefit from being organized before you move.

Selling your stuff is good motivation to let it go. Your junk is someone else’s treasure, so let them have it. In a weekend, you can be free of unwanted clutter and make enough money to fund other small improvements to market your home. Check with your local newspaper for special garage sale advertising packages.

Abundant storage is a major selling point. Make your storage space look larger by reducing what you keep in your closets. Move extra stuff to the attic or some other out-of-the-way place. Apply this rule to any storage area.

Remember, you’re selling your house, not your furniture! You may want to store any large or ornate pieces that take up valuable space. Removing a few pieces of bulky furniture is the best way to make your house bigger – or at least feel that way.

Another excellent way to make room and eliminate clutter is to start packing now. Take the time to wrap those knickknacks in paper and box them up. You’ll be ahead of the game when the crush of moving comes. In the meantime, your house looks bigger and better.

BET ON THE BASICS

If you have a little money to prepare your house for market,here are some good places to spend it.

If your furniture is really worn, now might be a good time to replace it. Look around with a critical eye and decide what new pieces will make the most difference in your home’s overall appeal.

You may be brave with bold colors, but chances are, your buyers aren’t. Play it safe and cover up any exceptionally deep, bright or unusual colors. Think nice and neutral. If you don’t want to redo the entire house, focus on the places that make the biggest impression – entry areas, living room, kitchen and master bedroom.

Wallpaper is a quick way to dress up the kitchen or bathroom. Be sure to select something with universal appeal. Also, pick a paper that won’t require a matching pattern to save time and money.  

TAKE A CUE FROM THE PROS

When selling your home, your biggest competition is new home development. Visit these areas and look for things you can do better. Accent the similarities and call attention to what your home has that new construction is without.

A professional that has your best interest at heart, is highly trained, knowledgeable and has their finger on the pulse of the market place is the way to go. With all of the legalities, potential for mistakes and coordination that must take place in a real estate transaction; you can literally lose thousands of dollars in real money along with valuable lost personal time. A Realtor will guide you through the process and be with you every step of the way.

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