Curb Appeal is Very Important
In a buyers market, such as the market we are currently in, selling a house can be a bit more challenging. Buyers can pick and choose, so sellers need to “stand out” from the rest of the homes competing for a buyer and a sale.
1. Work on curb appeal. If the yard is a mess, people are going to be less likely to buy the house, let alone look at the interior. Some simple things that can be done are keeping the lawn mowed and edged and your house exterior painted and “squared away”. Sealing an asphalt driveway with the “Black Jack” tar can improve your curb appeal.
2. Remove all clutter. Clutter makes the house seem smaller and less inviting to prospective buyers. Discard or donate items to charities that you have out grown or no longer need, but are still usable.
3. Neutralize any smells. Sorry to say, but a home with cigarette smoke can be a huge turn-off to people who don’t smoke. If you have pets, the smell of pets will turn off a buyer. Cat boxes, dog mess in the back yard, stale fish tanks and ferret cages are good examples of smells that will get a buyer out of your home quickly.
4. Clean your interior! Hire a cleaning service if you hate this sort of work, but nothing if more important. Shampoo carpets, vacuum floors, wash any dirty walls from pets, kids and wash windows inside and out. Also consider removing some of your personal things, such as photo’s of your kids in every grade as they matured. It makes it easier for prospective buyers to see themselves living in your home.
5. Inspect the house. Sometimes something as minor as a creaky floorboard, a broken light switch or a toilet that runs can cast an impression to the buyer you don’t want. Get someone not emotionally involved with your house to walk through and help you evaluate your home with another set of eyes.
6. Fix any neglected things. If something obviously needs fixing, especially if it is something anybody can do, it sends a conflicting message to the prospective buyer. Subconsciously, they will start to wonder what the next surprise will be. A lot of first time home-buyers barely have enough money to buy the house and are not ready to have to begin repairs right away.
7. Invest in renovations, if necessary. Is the carpet worn? Are there wear paths down the hall or stairs in the carpeting? Are there marks on your walls from a child’s marker pen? Do you have loud primary paint colors on your walls? Was your kitchen in-vogue in 1975 and pretty much looks the same? Don’t count on finding a buyer who wants to find a home they can work on. Far more buyers are looking for a home they DON’T have to work on.
8. Get the opinions of others. Sometimes a different perspective can go a long way to broadening your houses’s appeal. Others see and notice things you tend to ignore. Sometimes you’ve lived with something in your own home so long you don’t even see it anymore. A good realtor can be invaluable here, as they may be able to see home weaknesses that you are unaware of.
9. Consider getting a home inspection. Sure, it’s normal for a buyer to get an inspection when they buy, but what if you could get a jump on the process and show a recent inspection report and show you’ve already made the recommended repairs or have them underway?
Darren Donald and Sarah Haltness, licensed Realtors
10. Get a good Realtor. You want a realtor whom you can communicate with. You want a realtor who can really look out for your best interests and that will keep you abreast with all feedback from buyers and other Realtors when they show your home.
