505life SELLING TIPS

It's always nice to have a basis for getting your home ready to sell. Take a look at the tips below to help you get started!

Tips on Staging the Home

• First Impressions
  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. 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." Find a cleaning service or handyman to help.
• 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's right with your home. Find a plumber, electrician or general contractor to help.
• 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 closing. Find a handyman to help.
• 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. Find a contractor to help.
• 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. Find a contractor to help.
• 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 can see how bright and cheery your home is.
• 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. Try to give them time in the home with the Realtor by stepping out momentarily.
• 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. Oh, and if you have a litter box, make it invisible!
• When Prospects Visit
  Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your home with a minimum of distraction. It's better to be out of the way and give them time to look around.

More tips are always being added. If you have additional questions please contact me. I can discuss a detailed plan to help get your home ready to be sold.