First Impressions
Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What
excited you about its most appealing features? Now that you're selling your
home, you'll need to look at it as if you were buying it all over again.
A spruced up house makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An
attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding
a house that looks and feels well-cared for. Because buyers know they’ll encounter
fewer problems if they buy it, your house becomes more appealing and stands out
from the competition. So if you prepare your home correctly, you’ll save time
selling it when it’s on the market.
A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just
the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to
them, how their friends and family will react, how they imagine it would be to
live there.
With simple improvements throughout your house, you can grab the attention of
potential buyers and help them see why your house is right for them.
Plan Ahead
Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook for your selling
project, and as you stroll through your yard, make a list of what needs to be
done. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking
through your door. What will they like or dislike? What needs fixing, painting,
cleaning? What can you improve? Whether you paint your house or fix up the
yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and
minor repairs go far toward attracting serious buyers. But remember, those
seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually
discourage potential buyers. Here are ideas for increasing your home’s appeal
in order to sell it quickly at the best price.
Interior
Clean Everything
Buyers expect a spotless house, inside and out. So clean everything, especially
your windows and window sills. Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards
and drawers, kitchen and bathrooms. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways,
clean light fixtures and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And put
away your clothes.
Cut the Clutter
People are turned off by rooms that look and feel cluttered. Remember,
potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them
picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel
large, light, and airy. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as
pictures, valuables, and collectibles, and store or get rid of surplus books,
magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider renting a
storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.
It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter
can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started
packing for your next move. Make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest
of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly
rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house.
Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.
Closets
They’re an important consideration to many buyers. By storing clothing you
won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look spacious.
Paint
A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and
new. To make rooms look larger, choose light, neutral colors that appeal to the
most people, such as beige or white.
Carpet
Check its condition. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. It’s an easy and
affordable way to help sell your home faster. Again, light, neutral colors,
such as beige, are best. If you don’t replace it, you can suggest to potential
buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers
like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet
cleaned.
Repairs and Renovations
It’s best to avoid making major renovations just to sell the house since you’re
unlikely to recoup those costs from your selling price. Make minor repairs to
items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, gutters, loose
doorknobs, and broken windows. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t
take you seriously if your home-improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or
amateurish.
Leaks and Moisture
Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems.
Don’t try to cosmetically cover up stains caused by leaks. If you’ve fixed the
water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what
repairs were made.
Exterior
Curb Appeal
The "Wow" factor — that first visual, high-impact impression your
home makes on potential buyers — can turn a looker into a buyer. To determine
your property’s curb appeal, drive through your neighborhood and note other
properties; then approach your own house as if you were a potential buyer. How
does it look? Does it "wow" you? Will its curb appeal attract buyers?
Note what needs improving, such as trimming trees, planting shrubs, or painting
gutters. Little things convey that you’ve cared for your home, and this is your
opportunity to sell that important message to buyers who are shopping from the
street, simply cruising neighborhoods just looking for houses for sale. To get them
through your door, do what you can to make your property look like someone’s
dream home.
Paint/Stain
If it’s peeling or blistering and you can’t remember the last time you painted
it, your house needs some attention. That also goes for stain that is
significantly faded. A newly painted or stained exterior will help sell your
house faster. And whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll also
increase your home’s value.
In the Yard
Grab people’s attention by enhancing your yard and landscaping. If your house
looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that
it’s attractive on the inside, too.
- Prune bushes and hedges; trim
trees.
- Keep your lawn looking healthy and
green by mowing it often, fertilizing it, and keeping it edged and
trimmed.
- Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
- Weed your gardens; add fertilizer
and mulch; then plant colorful flowers.
- In winter, keep your driveway and
sidewalks shoveled, de-iced, and well-lit.
- Stack firewood, clean out
birdbaths, repair and paint fences.
The Front Door
An attractive entry catches a buyer’s eye and says, "Welcome," so
highlight this area of your house with decorative touches, such as a wreath on
the door or new shrubs and flowers around the steps. For an even grander entry,
clean and paint your front door, or replace it with a new one for a few hundred
dollars. Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs, repair torn screens, and
then put out that new welcome mat.
If you have a need for a real estate professional, please contact me.
I would also appreciate your vote of confidence by passing my name to
anyone you may know who would benefit from my services.
