20 TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME
As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the
timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you'll help your RE/MAX Sales
Associate sell your home faster, at the best possible price.
1. Make the Most of that
First Impression--A well-manicured
lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome
prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least freshly
scrubbed - front door. If it's autumn, rake the leaves. If it's
winter, shovel the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects
and the true appeal of your home, the better.
2. Invest a Few Hours for
Future Dividends--Here's your chance
to clean up in real estate. Clean up in the living room, the
bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is
fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds
charm and value to your property. Prospects would rather see how
great your home really looks than hear how great it could look, "with a little work."
3. Check Faucets and Bulbs--Dripping water
rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or
worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs leave prospects in the dark.
Don't let little problems detract from what's right with your
home.
4. Don't Shut Out a Sale--If cabinets or
closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also
stick in a prospect's mind. Don't try to explain away sticky
situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on
your part can smooth the way toward a closing.
5. Think Safety--Homeowners learn to
live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the
stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low
hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as
possible for uninitiated visitors.
6. Make Room for Space--Remember, potential
buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space.
They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and
basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
7. Consider Your Closets--The better
organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the time to box
up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
8. Make Your Bathrooms
Sparkle--Bathrooms sell
homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly
caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your
best towels, mats and shower curtains.
9. --Wake up prospects
to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get
rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains
are a must.
10. Open up in the Daytime--Let the sun shine
in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see how
bright and cheery your home is.
11. Lighten up at Night--Turn on the
excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside
- when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and
warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
--Potential buyers
often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with
people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves,
they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a
minimum.
13. Watch Your Pets--Dogs and cats are
great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have
a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep
Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
14. Think Volume--Rock-and-roll will
never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's
time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
15. Relax--Be friendly, but
don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home
with a minimum of distraction.
16. Don't Apologize--No matter how
humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a
prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's
appearance, let your experienced RE/MAX Associate handle the
situation.
17. Keep a Low Profile--Nobody knows your
home as well as you do. But RE/MAX Sales Associates know buyers -
what they need and what they want. Your RE/MAX Associate will have
an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay
in the background.
18. Don't Turn Your Home into
a Second-Hand Store--When prospects come
to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those
furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of
all.
19. Defer to Experience--When prospects want
to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak
to an expert - your RE/MAX Sales Associate.
20. Help Your Agen--Your RE/MAX
Associate will have an easier time selling your home if showings
are scheduled through his or her office. You'll appreciate the
results! |
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