WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME SELL FASTER.

Fortunately, there are plenty of things you CAN DO to give your home an edge with prospective buyers, here are a few:

  • Open the draperies pull up the shades and let in the sunlight.
  • Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night.
  • Install high-wattage light bulbs for even more illumination.
  • Remove all clutter from your rooms to make them seem larger.
  • Create a feeling of spaciousness in any way you can.
  • If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating scheme.
  • Keep your home dusted and vacuumed.
  • Have an emergency “game plan” to prepare your house for last-minute showing.
  • If possible, air out your home half an hour before each showing.
  • Lightly mist your house with air freshener and let it diffuse before the buyer arrives
  • Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before the showing, and then place the dish in an out-of-the-way spot in the kitchen.
  • Decorate your bedroom to give it the feel of a “master suite”.
  • Make sure all the beds are made and all linens and draperies are fresh and clean.
  • Organize your closets. Remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.
  • Bathrooms should always be kept spotlessly clean.
  • Do not leave the towels around. Wipe down the shower after each use.
  • Re-caulk your tile if the caulk is not sparkling white.
  • Put out fresh towels and decorative soaps for showings.
  • Set the scene by setting the table. This throws the spotlight on your lovely dining room or eat-in kitchen.
  • The kitchen should always be kept spotlessly clean.
  • Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.
  • Shampoo all carpets and vacuum them daily.
  • If you can’t get the carpet completely clean, replace it.
  • Improve traffic flow and increase visual space by removing unnecessary furniture, knickknacks, toys, etc.
  • Leave enough personal items out to avoid creating a sterile looking environment.
  • Remove all grease from range hoods, stove tops, walls, etc.
  • Clear rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean in the winter.
  • Put away your family photos until the house is in contract. This will make it easier for prospective buyers to envision themselves in your space.
  • Remove all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and especially from the storage area if you have one.
  • Rent storage space for these items, or have a yard sale.
  • Fix the front doorbell.
  • Invest in a new doormat.
  • Make sure that all your doors work properly. Repair or replace them if necessary.
  • Create the feeling of a spacious entryway by using decorative accents such as mirrors and rugs. Remove all clutter.
  • Do a spring cleaning no matter what time of year it is. Clean everything, from the attic to the basement.
  • Wash all windows, inside, and out.
  • Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers to brighten your home.
  • Remove all unpleasant odors caused by smoke, pets, etc.
  • Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors. Putty all nail holes and any other holes in the walls.
  • Depersonalize your teenagers’ rooms and decorate them in a more neutral manner.
  • Clean or paint the basement walls and floor.
  • Paint all interior walls off-white paint. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright, or dark colors.
  • All walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the rooms and make them look bigger.
  • Repair or replace broken banisters and handrails.
  • Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.
  • If the basement shows any sign of water or structural damage, it may be necessary to obtain a structural engineer’s report.
  • Replace all toilets bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean.
  • Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
  • Replace the washers in faucets and remove rust stains from basins.
  • Water and prune all plants.
  • Use plants in entryways, etc. to create a transition between indoors and out.
  • Get rid of dying plants or keep them out of sight.
  • Remove extraneous extension cords and exposed wires.
  • Open doors to all the areas you want buyers to see, such as walk-in closets, pantries, etc.
  • Close all other cabinet and room doors.
  • If you have an attic, make the most of it. Air it out and add decorations if possible.
  • Add visual appeal to stairways, especially the unfinished stairway leading to the basement.
  • Keep you yard mowed, raked, fertilized, and watered at all times.
  • Remove all toys, bikes, tools, and unsightly items from the yard.
  • Trees and shrubs should be trimmed and pruned.
  • Lawns and gardens should be weeded at all times.
  • Use flowering plants to dress up the yard, walkways, and patio.
  • Keep hoses and garden equipment out of sight.
  • Outdoor furniture should be cleaned and repaired if necessary.
  • Stack firewood neatly and out of sight.
  • Evaluate your mailbox with a critical eye. Paint, repair, or replace it if necessary.
  • Make all necessary minor repairs to the exterior of your house.
  • Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, and other extensions of the house should be uncluttered, swept, and in good condition.
  • Paint all entrance doors.
  • Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace them if their color has faded. Remove all windsocks.
  • Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.
  • Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. using lighting, benches, planters and flowering plants.
  • For buyers who visit during the day, take nighttime photos of your decorative yard lighting systems.
  • If you are planning to sell your home later in the season, take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping now.
  • Display these photos in your home for the buyer to see.
  • Clean and polish all accessories, such as doorknobs, door knockers, lamps and address numbers.
  • Clean, repair, and paint all gutters and down spouts.
  • Secure or replace all roof shingles or tiles. If the roof leaks, fix it.
  • Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint it if necessary.
  • Paint the chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.
  • Painting your home’s exterior can really make the difference between “turning on” a buyer and raising concern about the condition of your home.
  • Arrive at an equitable asking price with the help of an appraisal.
  • Don’t be afraid to accept the first offer.
  • Obtain a floor plan of your home if possible.
  • Assemble house records for the buyers review.
  • Provide a map of your area and highlight places of special interest.
  • Enlist the services of a professional marketing agent such as Paula McDaniel to market your house in trade magazines, in newspapers and with sign brochures.

     

Paula McDaniel
Cell: 423-355-0311
Fax: 423-598-7277


Shelley Talton
Licensed Assistant to Paula McDaniel
Direct: 423-308-5447
Prudential RealtyCenter.com
7522 E. Brainerd Rd.,
Chattanooga, TN 37421
Office: 423-899-5943

 

© 2011 Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities. An independently owned and operated broker member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Prudential, the Prudential logo and the Rock symbol are service marks of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its related entities, registered in many jurisdictions worldwide. Used under license. Equal Housing Opportunity. Licensed in TN & GA.

 

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