Tips To Help Sell Your Home/Property and Hosting Open Houses
As a property owner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your home. And,
on occasion, owners may wish to hold their own Open House. When you take the following
steps, you will help Larry sell your home faster, at the best possible price.
The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to enlist a quality
home service professional. The right professional can help you get everything in order -
from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on
more important things. Larry can refer you to such professionals.
Make the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome prospects.
So does a freshly painted – or at least freshly scrubbed – front door. Take screens off the
front of the house and have all windows cleaned. (Screens make windows seem dirty.)
Make sure all carpets are clean. If it’s autumn, rake the leaves. If it’s winter, shovel the
walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal of your home, the
better.
Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the
kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor
redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your property. If you’re worried
about time, hire professional cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember,
prospects would rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could
look "with a little work."
Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or worn-out plumbing.
Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the dark. Don’t let little problems detract
from what is right with your home.
Don’t Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a
prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily plane them
away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way toward a successful closing.
Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates on the stairs,
festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging overhead lights. Make your
residence as non-perilous as possible for uninitiated visitors.
Make Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space. They’
re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and basement are clean and free of
unnecessary items.
Consider Your Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up those
unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking
in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats, and shower
curtains.
Create Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of
excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.
Open up in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects may see how bright
and cheery your home is. It is also best to turn on all your lights.
Lighten up at Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside - when showing
your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Rather
than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're likely to hurry through. Keep the
company present to a minimum.
Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home. Pets have a
talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at
least out of the way.
Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction. When it's time to show
your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force a conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a
minimum of distraction.
Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a prospect
volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let Larry Hayes handle
the situation.
Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But Larry knows buyers - what they need and
what they want. He will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay
in the background.
Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those
furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
Defer to Experience
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let them speak to a
trusted expert – Larry Hayes.
|
|
