”DRESS” YOUR HOUSE FOR SALE

FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE HARD TO BREAK

Most home buyers form an opinion about your home within seconds of seeing it for the first time. They will probably spend less than 15 minutes touring your house, and they are going to see many other houses with similar features and amenities. Remember, you have one chance for a first impression so make your home the one the buyers remember by giving them a great first impression.

The outdoors

“CURB” APPEAL

The way your home looks from the street can make or break the sale. A large percentage of home buyers decide whether or not to look inside a house based on its curb appeal. The good news is that you can help the situation by spending some time freshening up its exterior appearance for a great first impression. The best way to get started is by viewing your property from the home buyer’s perspective. Ask yourself what is your first impression of the home front, what are the best and worst features and how can you enhance, improve or minimize them?

ATTENTION TO THE HARD SURFACES

Make sure the sidewalk and front walkway are free of debris. If necessary, give it a clean sweep and remove weeds that may be growing between cracks. Remove grease or oil spots and fill cracks in your driveway.

LANDSCAPE PARADISE! OR NOT?

There are times that adding elements to your landscaping can help curb appeal, but there are also times when removing something is more effective. Keep the grass mowed and the weeds pulled. Trim trees and bushes. Plant flowers to add a touch of color.

The indoors

MAKE AN ENTRANCE

You can start out by setting your home’s fragrance, since it is the first sense they will encounter upon entering your home. This is your opportunity to make a big statement in small area. Make your foyer welcoming by featuring a natural flower arrangement and continue with smaller arrangements throughout the house. What you need to avoid is strong pet, cooking and tobacco odors. Having pleasant music playing in the background will also help set your stage.

LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM

Clean and spruce up all rooms, furnishings, floors, walls and ceilings. Remove knickknacks from tables, countertops and bookshelves. Remove all unnecessary furniture to make your rooms seem more spacious. Brighten rooms with a fresh coat of paint. Choose neutral shades of white, off-white, beige or light pastels that will coordinate with most decors. Give your home an open, airy feel by opening the curtains and pulling up the blinds. Turn on as many lights as possible.

KITCHEN AND BATHROOMS

Kitchens should be absolutely spotless. Remove excess kitchen appliances. Make sure all major appliances are working. Clean the oven and refrigerator inside and out. Remove magnets from the refrigerator door. Bathrooms are just as important. Remove stains from bathroom fixtures, repair dripping faucets and polish mirrors. Add sanitizers to toilet bowls and keep lids down. Wash and fluff bathroom rugs, hang fresh towels. Potpourri and scented soaps add a nice fragrance to the air.

BEDROOMS AND CLOSETS

Same principle applies to the bedrooms. Remove all unnecessary furniture and give it a fresh coat of paint. Keep all closets organized and uncluttered. Pack away out of season clothing and holiday stuff to make your closets seem more spacious.

BASEMENT AND GARAGE

These spaces are important because it shows potential additional storage space in the house. To keep the entire house uncluttered, most of the packed boxes will end up in one of these two spaces (basement or garage). With this in mind, it is important to keep these spaces clean and organized. Make sure that all stored items are neatly organized and out of the potential buyer’s way giving them ample space to move around the room. If it’s possible, try to keep the car space in the garage free of items to give the potential buyers the opportunity to picture their own car in the space.