4. Prepare Your Home

Properly preparing your home for sale can make the difference between a quick sale above asking price, and a home that sits unsold for months... even after several price reductions. The first order of business is to forget your emotional attachment to your home and look at it through the eyes of a potential buyer. Be impartial, and recognize the strengths and weaknesses of your home.

Minor changes can often mean large returns. The objective is to make your home appear well maintained, spacious, organized and clean. Many factors such as how light it is, the colors, sounds and smell subtly effect the buyer's impression of your home. When a buyer views a home, they want to be able to picture themselves living there. A dirty, cluttered home in disrepair is not very attractive. On the other hand, it is not necessary to upgrade the entire kitchen. A fresh coat of paint and new carpeting are relatively inexpensive but pay big dividends.

Most of us don’t keep our homes in “showroom” condition. We tend to overlook piles of boxes in the garage, broken porch lights, and doors or windows that stick. It’s time to break out of that owner’s mindset and get your house in tiptop shape. The condition of your home will affect how quickly it sells and the price the buyer is willing to offer.

First impressions are the most important. As condo specialists, we will help you take a fresh look at your home and suggest ways to stage it and make it more appealing to buyers.

A home with too much “personality” is harder to sell. Removing family photos, mementos and personalized décor will help buyers visualize the home as theirs.

Make minor repairs and replacements. Small defects, such as a leaky faucet, a torn screen or a worn doormat, can ruin the buyer’s first impression.

Clutter is a big no-no when showing your home to potential buyers. Make sure you have removed all knickknacks from your shelves and cleared all your bathroom and kitchen counters to make every area seem as spacious as possible.