Selling Your Home

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Getting Ready to sell:

One of the most important things do before putting your home on the market  is to take care of the “easy “things. Make a list of thing that needs to  be repaired - leaky faucets chipped paint and loose hinges - and fix  those things.

Considering tackling a remodel before selling?  Check out articles from HouseLogic and REALTOR® Magazine at:

https://www.houselogic.com/sell  or magazine.realtor/sales-and-marketing. By entering the search terms  “Staging” and “Remodeling” you’ll receive helpful guides like, the Home  Staging Guide and information on staging on a budget as well as in  virtual reality.

YOUR HOMES DO’S AND DON’TS CHECKLIST

SHOWING DO’S            SHOWING DONT'S

• Don’t - Leave valuables out and on display
• Don’t - Leave pictures, political choices, or personal effects out on display
• Don’t - Clutter the closets or drawers 
• (buyers will open these areas)
• Don’t - Allow pets fur or smell to permeate the house and turn off buyers (Always vacuum up fur and neutralize any pet odors)
• Don’t - Rush the potential buyers
• Don’t  - Forget to keep to clean the outside

• Do - Clean the home from top to bottom
• Do - Mow your lawn
• Do - Send pets to the neighbors
• Do - Keep things organized and clutter free
• Do - Leave lights and air/heat on during the showing
• Do - Leave a small bowl of wrapped candy by the front door 
• Do - Thank them for coming

Now that you know what it takes to stage your home and get it ready to  sell, you want to make sure you have successful showings. Follow these  proven showing do’s and don’ts and you’ll be on your way.

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CURB APPEAL:
Curb appeal, or how your home shows from the street, is one of the key  things that will sell - or not sell - your home.  If buyers are turned  off by the outside of the home, it will be very difficult for you to get  them into the home and change their negative opinion.  Curb appeal will  be the key to making the right first impression.
Declutter the yard by removing toys and lawn furniture
Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes and edges, and plant fresh flowers to add color
Paint doors and windows with fresh updated color
Wash windows and screens
Patch holes in the driveway and reapply sealant

Staging basics:
What is staging,  anyway?  Staging is the process of enhancing the impression a  prospective buyer has about your home.  Staging is about removing things  from your home that make it look smaller, drab or dated.  It differs  from decorating because decorating involves bringing things into the  home to enhance the look of it.
The key to staging is simplicity and  getting buyers to a place where they can picture themselves in the  home.  You can began by focusing on these staging basics:
DECLUTTER  - Remove “you”  from the home (meaning pictures and personal items) Replace personal  photos with scenery or postcards.  A good rule to follow is not more  than 3 items on any surface. Remove all items from the kitchen counters  and store them away and not just in a drawer or cabinet.
NEUTRALIZE -  Neutralize the rooms with light-colored paint, like creams. tans, and  whites.  Keep bright colors to a minimum and use neutral and/or natural  colors that can work with many different styles.
KEEP IT CLEAN  -  Nothing sells better than a clean and well-maintained home. Always keep  the home feeling and smelling clean for showings.
Some inexpensive upgrades that can make a huge difference to the buyer include:
New bed treatment (especially the master bedroom)
New towels
Fresh paint
New lighting or lamps