|
1. Tour
Your Home as thought you've never seen the house before, and give it a thorough
review. Examine the exterior and interior, and smell for odors. Ask a friend to
walk-through, helping you see things that you don't. Take notes of home
improvements that will help you sell and create a list of open house ideas.
2. Remove Clutter in Each Room. Rooms
look more spacious when you remove excess and oversized furniture. Rearrange
your furniture to open up the look and feel of your rooms. Getting rid of
clutter is one of the best home improvements for them money to help you sell, because
it's free!
3. De-Personalize Your Home. Personal
things that make your home more your style may actually deter potential buyers
from envisioning their own personal touches. Remove family photographs and collectibles,
refrigerator magnets, and personal care items (like toothbrushes and
medications) so potential buyers can imagine your space as their new home.
4. Turn on the Lights. The lighter
and brighter your home is when you hold your open house, the larger and more
inviting it will seem to potential buyers. Wash your windows and screens and put
in higher wattage bulbs to make rooms brighter. Be sure to turned on all of the
lights and open all curtains when you hold your open house.
5. Deodorize Your Home. Steam clean
your carpets and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke residue, and pet
smells. Then keep your home smelling fresh by changing linens and towels
regularly, limit smoking to outside, keeping pets outside and cleaning the litter
box daily, and keeping windows open as much as possible to bring in fresh air. When
you hold your open house, add a scented candle for a nice aroma.
On the day of your open house, take your
pets to a friend's house or kennel, or at least put them outside for the day.
6. Keep
Everything Extra Clean. Clean every square inch of your house before your
open house. Look in places you might otherwise ignore: Fingerprints on light
switch plates, dust on baseboards, film on shower doors, mildew on bathtub
caulk, smudges or smears on kitchen cabinets, dryer lint residue on the washer
and dryer. An extra clean house makes a wonderful first impression and
convinces buyers that the owners have taken good care of the home.
7. Expose Desirable Features. Remove
area rugs to show off beautiful tile or wood floors. Pull back the drapes to
showcase the landscape of beautiful window views. If you have a fabulous
entertaining deck, "stage" the deck with potted plants, furniture,
and a patio umbrella.
8. Extra Attention to Kitchen and Baths.
Kitchens and baths are two of the most important rooms in the minds of
potential buyers. Clear off countertops and make sure cabinets, appliances, and
fixtures are sparkling clean. Expect that potential buyers will open cupboards,
cabinets, and drawers, so clean and organize these areas.
9. Neutral
Colors in Your Home. Prepare your home to sell by using neutral colors-like
linen, cream, or beige-in common rooms and bedrooms. You can add a splash of
color in bathrooms like pale blues and greens for a calm, spa-like effect.
10. Clean Up and Beautify the Exterior.
Boost your curb appeal - Clean your gutters, power wash your home's
siding/windows, and make any necessary home improvements. Sweep the entrance, get
a new doormat, and place some flowering annuals by the door. Be sure to remove
any dead brush and overgrown plants, remove weeds from the flower beds, trim all
shrubs to look neat, place fresh mulch, mow the lawn, and edge the sidewalks. Repainting
the mailbox and porch handrails can also add a fresh touch.
Remember, doing the work for your buyers to prepare your home for sale will help
them envision your home as their own. Your chances are high that you'll increase
the offers on your home and sell your home more quickly!
|
