Preparing
Your Home for Sale
EXTERIOR
Front Entrance: The first impression starts at your front
door. Clean or paint, fix broken glass or clean glass, make sure
the locks work easily and the exterior is well lighted. Put a new
welcome mat at the front door. Consider some seasonal potted plants
for the front porch.
Lawn: Remove clutter, edge walks, trim hedges and weed gardens.
Make sure lawn is mowed. If you have vacated the home, make arrangements
to have the lawn maintained. In the winter, it is essential that
the sidewalk, driveway, and porch are free of ice and snow.
Gutters & Spouts: The majority of basement problems are
caused by the inadequate extension of downspouts and poor grading.
Make sure downspouts are extended and gutters are clean.
Windows: Wash your windows! They make your home sparkle.
Replace any missing storms or screens.
Garage: Garage doors should work without effort. Remove debris
and organize.
INTERIOR
Foyer: The entryway should be welcoming. A floor mat helps
keep your home clean and makes the prospect feel that you are concerned
about your home. Don't expect the buyers to imagine how the house
would look "if only &" Do it!
Clean and Spacious: The general cleanliness of your home
reflects its overall maintenance. This is important! Remove clutter.
Clean, vacuum and dust. Clean carpets. Place fresh throw rugs over
worn carpet near thresholds. Ask your agent if your furniture arrangement
is optimum for showing. The feeling of spaciousness is crucial.
Remove unneeded items to make the room look bigger. You may even
need to put some items in storage off premises.
Personal Property: Store any items that you intend to remove
(or if they're essential to your daily living, clearly mark as "not
included in sale"). Remember, a Purchaser will not include any items
in a sales agreement that he or she hasn't seen. However, please
consider the fact that items you exclude (curtains, appliances,
etc.) may not be appropriate or necessary in your new home. The
offer price may reflect the omission of these items.
Firearms: For safety and to create a friendly atmosphere,
lock and store all firearms out of sight.
Closets: Over-crowded or poorly arranged closets imply a
lack of adequate storage space. This applies to front hall closets
and bedroom closets.
Halls and Stairways: Clear away clutter for an open appearance.
Kitchen: Remove all clutter from workspaces, including unnecessary
appliances and decoration. Stove should be cleaned, as well as sink,
refrigerator, and dishwasher. Empty garbage. Remove clutter. Clear
items such as artwork and lists off front of refrigerator. Kitchen
cabinets should be organized to emphasize adequate storage. Consider
replacing outdated kitchen faucets.
Baths: Your bathroom should be spotless. Clean tub and tile.
Re-grout or caulk if necessary. Remove rust stains. Clean sinks
and toilets. Repair leaking faucets and toilets.
Hardware: Repair loose doorknobs, sticking drawers, warped
cabinet doors. Oil hinges.
Lighting: Replace light bulbs and faulty switches. Remove
unnecessary extension cords.
Shower/Tub: Replacing old shower curtains with new ones is
an inexpensive way to give the bath a "new home" smell.
Basement: Clean exterior of furnace unit. Remove cobwebs,
replace light bulbs, and organize storage. Make furnace, water heater,
and electric box accessible. Use a dehumidifier to remove musty
odors.
Odors: Purchasers are especially sensitive to odors. You
may not even be aware of them. Pet odors are the most common and
problematic. Make sure litter boxes are clean, carpets are clean,
and the home is well ventilated. It may be necessary to replace
carpeting if odors persist. Other odors that are sometimes objectionable
are smoking odors, cooking odors (highly seasoned food), and must
or mildew. Please discuss these problems with your agent.
Your agent will have other suggestions specific to your home. Be
sure to take full advantage of the knowledge and experience your Desert Falls Realty / Country Club Properties professional. They will present your home in the best
possible light.
Showing Your Home
Seven Simple Steps to Open House Success
- Pull back drapes to let in as much light as possible. Turn
on all lights or allow us to turn them on.
- Set the thermostat to a comfortable temperature. This is not
the time to try to reduce utility costs.
- Children, pets and adults can make prospects feel uncomfortable
in your home. Please try to be out of the house and remove pets
during showings if possible.
- Try to eliminate distractions. Don't leave radios or stereos
playing during a showing.
- Do not accompany the Realtor and prospect on the showing.
The Realtor understands the customer's needs and desires and
will emphasize the features that are important to the buyer
in a subtle, appropriate manner.
- Please give heating bills or other information to your agent
and leave photocopies in the home for prospects. The agent may
ask you for additional information if necessary. Never discuss
price, terms, or any negotiable factors. Refer questions to
your agent.
- Record the name and company name (or collect business cards)
of any agent that shows the property if possible. This assists
your agent in obtaining feedback. If you have questions or concerns
about a showing, call your agent.
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