SELLER
TIPS
|
Selling
your home is just like selling anything else.
You need to highlight its strengths, focus on
its features, bring out its best. Here's a list
of places to start.
|
- Make
a great first impression.
Curb appeal is vital. Make sure your
lawn is neatly trimmed. Rake up any refuse
or leaves. Sweep the walkway. The front door
should be clean and presentable. If the
doorbell is not working, fix it.
- Don't
hesitate to decorate.
Faded walls and worn woodwork won't sell
your home. A small investment in paint will.
- Let
the sun shine in.
Open the drapes and curtains, clean the
windows, and turn on the lights. Home buyers
are drawn to bright and cheery interiors.
- Safety
Sells.
Keep stairways and corridors clean and
free of clutter. Cluttered areas are not
only unattractive, they are also dangerous.
- Call
the plumber.
Dripping water suggests worn out
plumbing. Clean those rust stained sinks and
make sure the drains are running free and
clear.
- Sell
the whole house.
Let prospects see the big picture. Make
sure your attic is presentable and your garage
is neat. Give
your storage space a clean coat of paint.
- The
devil's in the details.
Loose door knobs, sticking drawers,
wobbly hinges, stuck windows can all
cost you a sale. Fix them, and they can make
the sale.
- Wake
up your bedrooms.
Remove excess furniture, use attractive
and colorful bed linens and spreads, open
the drapes and let the light in. Remember:
this is where your buyers spend one third of
their lives.
- Buyers
love big closets.
And they look even bigger when they are
clean, neat, and well organized. Get rid of
piles of clothes and other clutter.
- No
apologies necessary.
Nobody's perfect. There is no need to
apologize for the appearance of your house.
Let your agent field any negative comments.
- Bathrooms
are big sellers.
Make bathrooms sparkle. Clean sinks and
bowls, recaulk where needed, and make sure
towels and area rugs are freshly washed.
- Avoid
crowds.
Home buyers hate crowds. When your agent
shows your home, take the children and go for a
walk in the neighborhood.
- Lighten
Up.
Home buyers love the light. By day, let
the sun shine in. By night, turn on your
lights-inside and out. Don't forget the
accent and picture lights.
- Stay
in the background.
Do not stay in your home when a prospect
comes to look. Let your Realtor do his or her
job and let your buyers inspect without
interruption.
- Be
Prepared.
You never know when your agent may need
to show your home on a moment's notice. So
make your beds and tidy up each morning,
just in case.
- Sell
the house. Period.
Don't try to sell your prospect old
furniture, appliances, lava lamps, or
anything besides your house. Save it for
after the sale.
- Lose
the pet.
Make your pets disappear when your home
is being shown. Your prospect may have
different tastes in animals than you.
- Leave
it to the professionals.
Let your Pelican agent discuss selling
price, terms, possession dates or other such
details. They have been carefully trained to
negotiate these items.
- Silence
is Golden.
When your house is being shown, turn off
the radio, television or any other
noise-producing source. It will make your
agent's job easier.
- Show
by appointment only.
Your Pelican agent can schedule all the
showings-including those from other real
estate offices. All you need to do is make
sure your home is ready to show.
|
|
|
|
