First Impressions Can Make the Sale

You’re relocating and now it’s time to sell your current home. To make a successful sale you must prepare your property for the market. Creating a positive first impression can make the difference between finding the right buyer and showing your home to many browsers.

There are a wide variety of things you can do to improve your home’s appeal. Before showing your property you should look at your home through buyer’s eyes. Often when homeowners see their own home they fail to notice inherent flaws or imperfections. By looking as objectively as possible at your property, you can decide what improvements need to be made to attain the maximum impact. Sometimes the smallest improvements can make a significant difference in a potential buyer’s perception of your home. Just as a director carefully stages a play to make a desired impression, so must your home be properly staged for sale.

Following these tips will help your house look its best for buyer’s showings and open houses. Keep in mind, a potential buyer’s first impression is usually the most important and lasting one.

Basement, Attic, Garage

• Clean out the clutter
• Keep stairways and entryways well lit
• Keep basement bright with new paint or lighting
• Ventilate or dehumidify
• Repair cracked floors and walls
• Stack items against the walls

Kitchen

• To brighten, paint cabinets and put up new curtains.
• Remove any appliances from your counters.
• Leave a delicious smell in the kitchen.

Bathroom

• Repair any dripping faucets
• Keep fresh towels in the bathroom
• Remove stains from toilets, bathtubs and sinks
• Keep sinks and mirrors shining
• Unclog sinks and bathtubs
• Use a deodorizer in the bathroom area
• Replace old caulking around the bathtubs

Living Areas

• Have all plaster in top shape
• Check ceilings for leak stains
• Use white and neutrals if painting and redecorating
• Clean fireplace
• Wash windows and replace any cracked or broken glass
• All windows should open and close
• Keep draperies open, window shades up
• Replace burned out light bulbs
• Be sure every light switch works
• Discard items now that will be disposed of when moving
• Straighten up the closets
• Keep pets away during showings
• Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors
• Turn off all televisions

Outdoors

• Invest in landscaping where it can be seen at first sight
• Cut back over-grown shrubbery and keep lawn mowed
• Paint your house if necessary
• Repaint front shutters, window frames, and front door
• In winter, walkways should be free of snow and ice.
• Inspect roof and gutters for needed repairs
• Place flowers outside of the front door

What Affects the Market Value of Your Home?

Your property has many values — one to the tax assessor, others to your lender and insurance company and yet another value to you, the owner. It also has distinct values to prospective buyers depending on their needs, desires and financial resources. Ultimately, buyer value or market value will determine the selling value of your property. Some of the factors that can determine the value of your home are:

Location

• Location can be the single greatest factor affecting value. Urban or rural settings, quality of school districts, and local amenities are just some of the determining factors of location

Competition

• Buyers compare your property against other properties offered in the market place

Timing

• The current real estate market may reflect either a buyers' or sellers' market
• Market conditions cannot be manipulated; an individually tailored marketing plan must be developed accordingly

Condition

• Property condition affects price and speed of the sale
• Optimizing physical appearance and preparing in advance for marketing maximizes perceived value