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Now the you have made the decision to sell your home
yourself, there are many things you can and should do before listing your home on
the MLS. We recommend the following:
Detach your
emotions
- When talking with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to
you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a
"home." Yet if you are selling property, they will often
refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying
real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real
estate it is best to remove emotion from the equation.
- It will help if you think of your house as a marketable commodity. Your goal is to get
others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do
not consciously make this decision, you may accidentally create a
situation where it takes longer to sell your property. There are many
things you can do to "de-personalize" your house.
Such as putting away family photos, sports trophies, collectible items, knick-knacks, and
souvenirs. Cleaning up the house any putting away any shoes,
clothes and other personal items with also help.
The Exterior of
your Home:
- Curb appeal is the first impression of your house. Keeping the grass
cut and the outside area tidy will help make a great first impression.
Your lawn should be cut, edged, well watered, and free of
brown spots. Rolling up garden hoses and putting away gardening tools
will help to give it a great first impression.
- Check your landscaping. It should be at least average for the neighborhood. If it is not, you may
want to buy a few bushes and plant them. If you have a flower area, bright and colorful flowers
will help to bring out the beauty of your house.
- The back yard should be tidy. If you have a pool or spa, keep it freshly maintained and cleaned.
Pet areas should also be kept clear of "debris."
- You may want to paint or wash the exterior of the house (including window casings,
shutters, and doors). The newer things look, the better!
- Make sure to wash the windows inside and out and check for cracks and easy of
opening.
- Also check the gutters and chimney and clean them as necessary.
The Interior of
your Home:
- Over the years, many FSBO's have told us that the number one thing a home
seller should do to sell their home is to remove any clutter. After years of living in the same
home, clutter may collect in ways that may not be evident to the
owner. We recommend taking a step back and looking at your home
as a potential buyer would. Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics,
and basements. The goal is to have as much open, clear space as
possible. It may be best to rent a storage unit for a few months
rather than stacking boxes in space you may not have.
- Painting interior rooms may be your best investment when selling your home.
A fresh coat of paint can make a room look clean and bright. Remember
that when choosing paint colors, you want to pick colors that will appeal to the widest
number of buyers. An off-white color is usually a good choice because white
will help a room appear brighter and more spacious.
- Where paint is not appropriate you may want to wash with a little soap and water (i.e. wall paper, paneling).
- Wash all floors and bathroom tiles. You may want to repair
or replace any broken tiles, but be sure not to spend a lot of money
doing it. Remember, you are not fixing up the place for yourself.
- Leaking or worn-out faucets should also be
replaced. By simply replacing them you can give a whole new look
to the room.
- Make sure to clean under the sinks and fix any leaks. Any damage
that may have occurred can be cleaned up quickly by using contact paper or paint.
- Unless the carpet appears old and worn, or it is an outdated style or color, you probably
should do nothing more than hire a good carpet cleaner or shampoo the carpets yourself to save money.
- Frequently replacing air filters will also help to keep the dust down around
the home while it is on the market.
Odor
Control
- Pay attention to pet and/or cigarette odors.
- Apologies to pet owners, but
pets come with odors. You may have become used to them, but they
may be quite noticeable to potential buyers. For those with cats, be sure to empty
litter boxes
daily and use plenty of baking soda. For dog owners, it may be
best to keep the
dog outdoors as much as possible. You might also try sprinkling
"pet odor" carpet freshener on the carpet before a showing.
- Another idea is to place scented potpourri around the house.
- And for a great "home" smell, pop a batch of frozen
cinnamon rolls or home-made bread into the oven before a showing.
Above are some of the major things to consider when
getting ready to sell your home. Other useful tips can be found on our
"helpful links" page. Even though it may take you a little time
and effort to get your house ready to sell, it will definitely pay off in
the end. Just read what one of our happy clients has to say:
"Funny, I live in depressed housing area and there are a lot of houses for sale that have
been for on the market for months. I listed through your service and had 4 offers in two days. In my opinion, the key was 1) preparing the
house (we took your advice and rented a storage unit to declutter the
house); and 2) preparing a good description of the house for MLS. I
described all the good things I could think of which really set it apart from the average real estate agent description - you know the
ones, good location, shows well and such. A lot of people, to include my neighbors, some relatives who are selling in other states, some of
my Dad's customers, and even some real estate agents have asked how we did it. I tell them: flat rate listing,
declutter, and a good write-up for MLS, then I give them your web address. Thanks again. My husband
and I will toast a glass of Champagne to you and yours!"
P.G. - Anne Arundel, MD
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