Selling
Selling
a home is the largest business transaction most of us will
ever make. The selling process can be very complex and time
consuming, however with the aid our services, be certain that
you will come away completely satisfied and stress free.One
of our main responsibilities is to arrive at an accurate estimate
of value for your home and so we ensure a detailed evaluation
and analysis of every part of your home. Our work doesn’t
stop there as we will fully investigate the real estate market
and compare your property with similar listings to make sure
that you receive the highest amount you deserve for your home.
We will follow a step-by-step marketing program that will
provide you with service that is professional and courteous.
In the end, you will be sure the price you set reflects the
true value of your home under current market conditions .
. . rest assured that you will be completely satisfied with
your selling price once we have completed the proper research
and evaluation of your home.
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.
Keep
yourself organized with the following checklist.
Clean
and Maintain
•
Windows, sills, and screens
• Walls and floor
• Tile
• Ceilings
• Cupboards and drawers
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• Light fixtures
• Ceiling fans
• Carpet and rugs
• Mirrors
• Garage
• Attic
• Basement
• Laundry room
• Yard
• Gutters
• Replace furnace filter
• Dust furniture, TV and computer screens
• Closets
• Remove clutter
• Pack personal items
Repair
•
Leaky faucets and plumbing
• Torn screens
• Slow drains
• Gutters
• Loose doorknobs
• Deck boards
• Broken windows
• Electrical fixtures
• Water stain damage
• Broken appliances
• Damaged walls and ceilings
• Worn carpet and rugs
• Damaged sidewalks and steps
Improvements
•
Stain or paint deck
• Store tools
• Roll up garden hose
• Paint or stain exterior
• Prune bushes and hedges
• Trim trees
• Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trim
• Weed gardens, plant flowers
• Shovel driveways, de-ice
• Stack firewood
• Clean out birdbaths
• Caulk windows and doors
• Repair and paint fences
• Seal asphalt driveway
• Make sure doors close properly
• Enhance entryway
• Replace welcome mat
