Tricks for Top Dollar

Tricks for Top Dollar

If you’re getting ready to place your house on the market, there are several things you can do to put your best foot forward right in the beginning. Remember that these are suggestions that are going to help your home appeal to the masses and hopefully allow you to secure an offer pretty quickly. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. If you are touring a home and see that a home is in perfect condition and move-in ready, you are probably more likely to offer full price, rather than if you tour a home that needs a lot of work.

Interior suggestions:

• De-personalize your home.
  Remove family photos, sport trophies, collectibles, souvenirs, knick-knacks, etc. You want the potential buyers to be able to envision themselves in your home and removing these items will make it easier to do so. Don’t just place all of these items in the garage either. You don’t want to just move the clutter around.

• Remove clutter.
  You may not see it as clutter, but other people will. Have a friend or neighbor help point out areas that you may not recognize are cluttered. In the kitchen, remove everything from the counters including toasters, cutting boards, etc. Tidy up drawers too because buyers will open every drawer and cabinet in your home to see if all of their “stuff” will fit too. In closets remove or straighten up excess amounts of clothes and shoes. For rooms with a lot of furniture, you may want to consider getting a storage unit and removing some. Rooms appear larger with less furniture.

• Paint. Over time your walls get scuffed up and dirty. Fresh paint is relatively inexpensive and can do a lot to freshen up a room. Remember to choose a color that would appeal to the majority of buyers. If you have a lime green kitchen, you may want to consider painting it a neutral color.

• Cleaning your carpets. If your carpet is in good condition, you may just need to have your carpets cleaned and deodorized to get rid of pet residue or unwanted smells.

• Window cleaning. Clean windows can make a great impression on buyers. It will appear that you’ve taken good care of the home and just be another positive aspect to your home.

Exterior Suggestions:

• Landscaping. The exterior is the first thing the potential buyer is going to see. Make sure you make a good impression. In the spring/summer months, plant a few flowers, make sure gardens are maintained. In the fall, cut back bushes, cut down perennials, etc. In the winter, make sure paths are shoveled to make it easy for people to get in.

• Front door/entryway. Make sure there are no bugs or cobwebs covering the entryway. Make sure locks are working properly.