| Let's face it no one really likes selling things and | | | | them. Clean out all cabinets especially under the |
| selling your house is SALES! You're trying to make | | | | sink and make sure to organize everything |
| your house stand out to EVERY prospective | | | | including the pantry and cupboards. Try a fresh |
| buyer that walks through your door. If you stage | | | | coat of paint on the doors and new, modern |
| your home correctly, prospective buyers will be | | | | handles or knobs to make everything look fresh |
| able to picture themselves living in the home. | | | | and new. |
| Proper staging can decrease the number of days | | | | 6) No one wants to bathe in someone else's filth |
| a home remains on the market and increase its | | | | so make sure your bathrooms are spotless. Clean |
| selling price. Accredited home stagers can be hired | | | | them like you never have before. All tile and grout |
| to visit your home and make the necessary | | | | should be scrubbed and shower doors or curtains |
| changes to increase your homes marketability. | | | | should be clean with no sign of mildew or calcium |
| Professional home stagers switch the home's | | | | build up. Clean off your counters and put away all |
| center of focus from the seller's taste and target | | | | of your personal items. Try buying new towels, |
| the most likely buyer. Sellers must realize that | | | | decorative soaps and containers and possibly |
| those personal mementos, family items, that they | | | | even a new shower curtain and rug for the |
| fail to put away prior to showings can affect how | | | | bathroom. Remember your bathrooms can make |
| fast your home sales and the value of your | | | | or break a sale so make sure they look great. |
| home. That's why many REALTORS might | | | | 7) Make sure furniture is clean, dusted and |
| request you to hire staging professionals. | | | | arranged in a way that allows people to walk |
| However, if you're serious about Selling and | | | | through the room easily. If this means moving a |
| getting the best value here are a few tips from | | | | piece or two into storage then do it. It is |
| the professionals: | | | | important that people don't feel cramped when |
| 1) First impressions begin on the outside. The first | | | | viewing a house. Put away all of your CD's, videos |
| thing a buyer sees when he pulls up to your | | | | and personal pictures and mementos. Emphasize |
| house will be the garage door, flower beds, shrubs | | | | anything special in a room such as a fireplace |
| and of course the front door. Garages and | | | | mantle or built in shelves by placing a flower |
| storage sheds should be cleaned and all shrubs | | | | arrangement, clock or a piece of artwork on |
| and trees should be trimmed. Flower beds should | | | | them. Never use personal pictures of family or |
| be weeded and the yard should be free of clutter. | | | | friends as display pieces. |
| Any personal yard art (pink flamingos or gnomes | | | | 8) Whenever you have a showing scheduled or |
| etc.) should be packed away. Consider spending a | | | | an open house make sure you clean the house |
| few dollars on mulch and maybe some flowers to | | | | from top to bottom, even the ceiling fans. Lighting |
| enhance the setting. Keep the yard mowed and | | | | is very important. You want enough light that |
| trimmed and consider painting the garage and | | | | your house isn't "cave-like" but not so much that |
| front doors. | | | | it looks like an operating room. Open the curtains |
| 2) Neutral color paint throughout is preferred. | | | | and shades and try to let as much natural light in |
| Fresh and clean walls are mandatory. Your choice | | | | as possible. You can put on some soft music if |
| of colors can greatly affect your homes | | | | you like and spray some air freshener or put |
| marketability. Remember, we're trying to make | | | | some fragrance oil on your light bulbs. Don't |
| the homebuyer feel at home so it's not about | | | | overdo the smelly stuff or people might think |
| your tastes but rather allowing the homebuyer to | | | | you're trying to cover up some bad smells. You |
| picture their things in the home. Tans, beiges, | | | | can't go wrong with fresh flowers and maybe |
| sages are excellent choices. If you have to | | | | even a candle or two in the bathrooms and |
| brighten the place up a little try new towels or | | | | kitchen. |
| colorful throw pillows or throws. You can also add | | | | 9) A realtor friend of mine suggests that you go |
| lots of color with some fresh flowers and nice | | | | through each room with fresh eyes. Try to |
| vases. | | | | picture yourself as a buyer. Try doing everything |
| 3) Unclutter Everywhere! If you don't use it on a | | | | on the list and get the house prepared as if |
| daily basis, pack it up. Get rid of the clutter that | | | | someone is coming over to see it. Now go do |
| you pass over every day. If you have kids make | | | | something you love to do and get your mind off |
| sure their stuff is neat and organized. Clean out all | | | | the house for a while. Spend a few hours away |
| your closets and cabinets so that they appear | | | | and then come back to your house as if this |
| fresh, big and spacious. Get rid of all those | | | | were the first time you have ever seen the |
| pictures, mementos, and personal items. | | | | house. Take in everything from the view when |
| 4) The entry to your home should be warm and | | | | you first drive up to the feel of the house as you |
| inviting. Try some candles that smell good and | | | | step out the front door to leave. If you're honest |
| maybe some flowers on a table in the entryway. | | | | with yourself you'll probably see a few things I |
| Remember you never get a second chance to | | | | didn't cover here and that is great. Fix everything |
| make a first impression. | | | | you can to make sure prospective homebuyers |
| 5) The kitchen is without a doubt the most | | | | can find nothing wrong with your house when |
| important room when it comes to selling your | | | | they're making their final decision. |
| house. The kitchen HAS to be spotless. Clean it | | | | My suggestion is if you can afford a stager it is |
| from top to bottom including ceiling corners, ceiling | | | | well worth the money. If you can't it's not the |
| fans and the floor under the cabinets. Take | | | | end of the world you can still get the job done |
| everything off the fridge including children's | | | | with a little common sense and some good old |
| artwork, sports schedules, magnets, etc. Keep | | | | fashioned elbow grease. |
| the countertops clean and clear everything off of | | | | |