It's About First Impressions

The condition and appearance of your home can significantly affect the selling price you will ultimately receive. Putting your home on the market without analyzing what needs to be done to make it look its best is no longer an option. We all know that life is busy and sometimes we don’t notice chipped paint on the walls or clutter around the house.

We are experts at helping you determine exactly what needs to be done. We transform clutter filled homes with misplaced furniture into beautiful listings that show incredibly well. We are the stagers! At times we suggest replacing appliances or counter-tops to increase the value since the incremental cost of updating can be recovered in a quicker sale or increased sale price. We do whatever it takes to make our listings show like model homes. Buyers pay a premium for homes that are in excellent condition, so once you decide to sell, make sure your home is ready to sell.

How do I prepare my home to sell?

First, make sure your home’s exterior is in tip-top shape! Prospective buyers won’t even walk in the door if your home does not have curbside appeal. You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but buyers do! So make sure that cover is appealing.

Front Entry:

• Check your front door to see if it needs painting.
• Polish door fixtures if needed.
• Purchase a fresh welcome mat.

Paint:

Paint the outside of your home if needed.

Landscaping:

Find your green thumb. Potted plants and flowers will make your home look beautiful and tell a buyer you care about your home.

If you live in a single family home with a front yard make sure the lawn is cut, weeds are pulled and ground covers look fresh so that your attention to detail shows.

NEXT, GO FOR THE SPACIOUS LOOK AND DECLUTTER

Remember, your home is on display. If necessary, you should rent a storage locker. One of the best and least expensive ways to improve the appearance and feel in your home is to clear out your closets and rooms as much as possible. We all have tons of stuff. The way we live and the way we need to live when selling a home are drastically different. Your home will actually look larger when it is clean and clutter free.

Box it up:

Find a home for your stuff. If it can’t be neatly placed in a drawer or put away on a shelf, box it up. If you have children, pack away as many of their toys as possible. Find homes for the toys in closets or in toy bins. Pack away anything that is crowding your home that you don’t use on a daily basis.

Organize:

• Organize all closets. Make sure it doesn’t look like you are busting at the seams.
• Organize and clean out all cabinets and drawers.
• Clear all clutter from the countertops. Less is more!
• Remove papers and unnecessary items.
• Remove all magnets and pictures from your refrigerator.
• Reorganize and clean out your garage.
• Organize, straighten and coordinate your hanging space.

Kitchens:

• Store infrequently used appliances.
• Remove as much as possible from the counters.
• Remove all the magnets and miscellaneous hanging items from the refrigerator door and bulletin boards.

Closets and storage areas:

One of the most frequently voiced requirements of buyers is for more closet and storage space. Open up your storage by removing items you aren’t using. If it looks like you don’t have enough storage space, a buyer will think so also.

Garage:

Buyers will pay a premium for a garage if they can visualize it being of value to them, but it’s hard to sell when the garage is filled and overflowing. If your garage has become a two-car attic, move the excess into a storage locker.

FINALLY, CLEAN UP!

You want your home to smell fresh and sparkle. Whether you hire a cleaning service or do it yourself, it is important to do this job both prior to and during the home selling process.

Flooring should be a priority:

• Refinish if necessary or clean and polish all floors.
• Steam clean the carpeting or replace if necessary.

Basic Cleaning is crucial:

• Wash all baseboards
• Dust everywhere. It’s amazing how much dust you find after you move out.

Bathrooms are a must:

• Clean all soap residue in a shower.
• Purchase a new shower curtain if it is dirty.
• Clean accumulated dirt in the track of a sliding shower door.
• Fix soiled or missing grout.
• Clean toilet bowls.
• Buy a new bath mat if it looks dirty.

Your kitchen is the focal point:

• Clean your stove inside and out.
• Clean the kitchen exhaust hood.
• Make sure your refrigerator is clean and organized.
• Clean your counters every day so they look and smell good.
• Organize the insides of your cabinets; people want to envision how much space you have.

Window should sparkle:

• Have your windows cleaned prior to selling your home.
• A vase with fresh flowers is always a nice touch.

Congratulations! Your home is now ready to undergo the selling process. Now scram- we have showings to do!

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