We have talked about this before but it bears repeating. Putting your home on the market does require a bit of tidying up, selective elimination of acquired ‘treasures’, and sprucing up; both inside and out, and the time to do all of this is before you put the ‘FOR SALE’ sign in the front yard.
Do all the work you want to your kitchen, your bath, your playroom- but neglect your front walk way and yard area and the odds are the potential clients that liked the interior shots online will drive on by when they pull up, with their agent, to your home. Being out with buyers often I can tell you they are often very disappointed to see someone present a wonderful home online and then the drive up is horrendous. I am not just talking about a few things not being great- I am talking horrendous. Please mow your lawn, trim your trees and bushes and CLEAN YOUR FRONT PORCH if your home is on the market. Be sure the doorbell works, yes we use them. Be sure the windows are clean and when we enter the home what will we see, hear, and smell in the first 30 seconds. (all of this could influence our decision to make an offer- as well as the size of that offer if made!)
This brings us to ‘what will we smell?’ Refrain from cooking fish 3 nights a week or liver and onion the other 2 nights that week and by all means do not leave your cat litter box overflowing when you know you will have guests (i.e. a showing) stopping by that day. I’ve seen a lot while out showing homes, but I’m sure I have not seen it all, yet. (nor do I wish to!)
Once you get past the basics, then you can look to staging. Staging does not have to mean $1000’s of dollars out of pocket- it can be as simple as removing personal photos on the walls and replacing some with tasteful artistic pieces. Another idea is to remove all out of season clothing from your closet- and if you are feeling adventurous- remove it all- save the few looks you prefer to always have on hand for work and play. WOW, now doesn’t that closet look larger already??? But if you want to take the next step and STAGE with the help of a professional- ask your REALTOR® for suggestions to be sure you work with a professional stager.
What about your pantry? Are you stockpiling goods from COSTCO and SAMS at record levels? Maybe now is the time to run through some of that supply. We want to show you have a lot of space- not that you are a savvy shopper.
Cupboards- upper and lower are next on the list. Plates and cups crammed in and saved since you first got married and moved in, or have you scaled back to a simple 4-6 serving sets? No time like the present to do so. Same goes for the pots and pans. Unless you are Wolfgang Puck or auditioning for the next Iron Chef you really will not miss all 6 of those skillets and the associated covers. Oh calm down, I am not suggesting you throw them out- simply pack them away. SHOWCASE YOUR SPACE!!!
Be sure the light bulbs all work- even in the bathroom you never use- WE want to see it!
When you think you are all done- LEAVE! I mean it- LEAVE the house- go for a walk, a drive, or just get the mail. NOW walk back in like you are seeing it for the first time- Drive up- LOOK at the yard, the trim, the gutters, the trees- Walk up to the front door- spend a minute on the porch- what do you see, hear, smell. Walk through the front door- just through it- now look- use all your senses- TAKE IT ALL IN- this is your first time in this home- what do YOU think now? This is what potential buyers are going to think. IF you are satisfied with the sights, sounds and smells- now is the time to take your home from FOR SALE- to SOLD! SisforSold !!!
Happy House Hunting in North Texas. If you need a REALTOR® to list your current home, or are looking to buy or rent in the North Texas region- Give Dawn a call/text 214-604-4561 at Avery Properties/Avery Realty Group- where Sellers Enjoy 4% Listings and Buyers Enjoy Cash Back!! (ask me how…..)
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