Tips for Sellers:

If you follow these guidelines, your home should sell more quickly, at top dollar and with the least inconvenience to you.

1-Check for unnecessary objects on furniture throughout the house. Try to eliminate clutter. Avoid collections of numerous items.

2-Look at kitchen countertops and remove unnecessary items.  If it’s not used regularly, put it away. Clean refrigerator front and remove pictures, other items, etc. A sparse kitchen makes it easier for buyers to imagine their things there. Be sure to put the kitchen in as clean condition as possible. Sticky counters are a real negative.

3-Move to the bathrooms and again remove any unnecessary items from all areas. Keep only your most needed items that you use on the counters. Use towels of coordinated colors. Most importantly, kitchens and bathrooms must exhibit cleanliness throughout.

4-View your furniture throughout the house. If there is any extra furniture, remove those pieces. Also remove pieces that are in poor condition.  Make the rooms look as large as possible so there is plenty of room to walk through the house without bumping into furniture.

5- Go through your home and inspect each room.

(a) Paint any rooms that need it. Use very neutral white or off-white colors. Check with me on the color before you start painting. Choose light, neutral colors. Rooms with dark, dated paneling can be made to come alive by brightening with light paint. Some sellers say they love the rich, wood look. However, we have found most buyers do not. They say that look is dated.

(b) Think about removing any wallpaper that isn’t a very small or neutral pattern. If you have dated, large patterns, they can easily date a home.

(c) Are your carpets and drapes clean? If carpet is worn or a dated color (a light, neutral color is best) or is in poor condition, consider replacing it. You’ll get an excellent return on your money. Are you thinking you’d rather give a credit?  Most buyers have very little ability to imagine how changes will look. They will like having the money but would like your home more if they could see how nice the new carpet looks.

(d) Clean windows and windowsills.

(e) You don’t need to worry about closets or garages being too full. Buyers will expect that. However, try to have closets and garages show some sense of order.

7- Leave on certain lights during the day if your home is dark in some areas.  (Your agent will show you which ones.) One of the most often heard requests of buyers is for a light and bright home.

8- You should be aware of very strong odors. Buyers find them very offensive. Strong pet smells and cigarette odors are particularly offensive to many buyers. Try to keep any kitty litter and pet food dishes very clean and out of sight.

9-Add flowers when appropriate. They always make a room more inviting.

1-Look around the exterior of the house and remove all trash such as old garbage cans, wood scraps, extra building materials, unsightly storage items. Haul away items that you don’t need or want to take with you. Put other unsightly items all together in one spot if you need to keep them.

2-Examine gutters, roof condition and other fix-up items. Do your gutters or the roof need any attention before you go on the market? Buyers do notice repair items and add them to the list of the things they would rather not have to do themselves after they move in. Squeaking doors, creaking floors, torn or missing screens, cracked glass and other to-do items, dampen a house hunter’s enthusiasm. Many buyers believe there will be 10 problems they haven’t noticed for every problem they see.

3-Next consider plants. Trim bushes and trees if they are overgrown. Keep plants from obscuring windows.  Shrubbery that hides a home from view makes it harder to sell the house. Go across the street and look at your home’s "curb appeal" as a buyer might see it. You will get a very interesting perspective on your home. Would you want to buy it?

4-Examine planting areas. Weed them and add bark as appropriate. Cut the lawn and fertilize it, if needed. Get rid of any dead plants or shrubs.

5-Look at patios or decks and clean them of all small items, such as unused pots, barbecues, toys, etc. Try to eliminate all clutter.

6-Consider the paint condition of the outside of the house, especially the front door and trim. The house should be a light color such as white, beige or gray. Green, brown, and blue can be a turn-off for some buyers. That first impression is crucial. Sometimes that first impression is 70-80% or more of the reason a buyer decides to buy. Make sure that first impression is an outstanding one.

7-Flowers near the front door, or in a pot next to the front door are a very easy way of making buyers feel welcome. This really adds to that first impression. Flowers on the patio also allow buyers to actually see how pretty the patio can be with some color, rather than leaving that to their imaginations.

8-Examine any pools and spas and make sure they are very clean and inviting. If the pool looks dirty and poorly maintained,  buyers may think it takes too much time to maintain. The pool should look like great fun instead of work.

9-It will be perceived as a negative if there are too many cars, boats, vans, and RVs parked outside the house. See if you can park some at a friend's house.

In summary: you can’t find a better investment when you’re selling a house than to paint, fix-up and clean up. Your home will definitely sell more quickly and at a higher price if you follow these guidelines. Most sellers are very interested in that kind of outcome!  

Have any questions about this process? E-mail me and I'd be glad to answer them for you.