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- GETTING YOUR PROPERTY READY TO SELL:
- DISCONNECT YOUR EMOTIONS
- AGENTS refer to a property as a "HOME" when talking to BUYERS
- to evoke an EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT to the property
- they refer to a property as a "HOUSE" when talking to SELLERS
- to evoke an EMOTIONAL DETACHMENT
- try to think of your house as a MARKETABLE COMMODITY
- try to DETACH yourself from the FOND MEMORIES
- if you can't, maybe your are NOT READY TO SELL
- MAKE YOUR HOUSE ANONYMOUS
- a model home in a new development is furnished in an
impersonal way - plain furniture, plain wall pictures
- allows the BUYER to imagine his OWN STUFF there instead
- so in YOUR HOME FOR SALE...
- REMOVE FAMILY PHOTOS and SPORTS TROPHIES - anything
individual in nature
- allows the prospective BUYER to VISUALIZE the place as HIS
- also consider this while you are living there
- permanent and distinctive painting of a wall or a unique,
artistic tile mosaic in the bathroom or kitchen is a
creative outlet for you as an individual...
- but it'll probably PUT OFF an otherwise interested BUYER
- ELIMINATE CLUTTER
- it's NATURAL to ACCUMULATE CLUTTER, then NOT even NOTICE it
- ASK a FRIEND'S ADVICE on what looks cluttered in your place
- START with the KITCHEN
- pack up all NON-ESSENTIAL appliances, pots, pans, dishes,
whatever and STORE them in a STORAGE FACILITY because..
- BUYERS will be LOOKING in your CABINETS to check space
- HALF-EMPTY CABINETS and CUPBOARDS look BIGGER!
- SAME is TRUE for COUNTER TOPS so PACK AWAY
nonessential APPLIANCES
- it's all about OPEN SPACE
- STOP REPLACING food in the PANTY - use it up
- clean up UNDER the SINK - remove any water marks
- CLOSETS:
- closets also LOOK BIGGER when they're ONLY HALF FULL
- so PACK some CLOTHES and SHOES, etc AWAY in STORAGE
- ROOMS:
- ROOMS LOOK BIGGER with LESS FURNITURE
- so PACK some FURNITURE away in STORAGE
- GARAGES and BASEMENTS
- LESS CLUTTER - and they LOOK BIGGER
- are you noticing a theme here?
- REPAIRS:
- DON'T do anything EXPENSIVE
- KEEP finances clean for your NEW MORTGAGE and NEW PLACE
- FORGET REMODELING
- too EXPENSIVE and you'll NEVER get your MONEY BACK
- but there are CHEAP things YOU CAN DO
- INTERIOR:
- make stuff SHINNY
- FAUCETS, KNOBS - SHINNY makes stuff LOOK NEW
- REPLACE FAUCETS if they CAN'T be CLEANED
- relatively cheap
- REPAIR LEAKY FAUCETS - just costs a WASHER
- consider HIRING a PROFESSIONAL CLEANER
- they do a GOOD JOB
- DO FIX PLUMBING and ROOF LEAKS
- keeps LAWYERS away after the sale
- PAINT INTERIOR WALLS if they need it
- relatively CHEAP and makes the place LOOK NEW
- COLOR should be an OFF-WHITE
- most WIDELY ACCEPTABLE color to BUYERS
- LIGHT colors make ROOMS LOOK BIGGER
- CARPET:
- just HIRE a CARPET CLEANER - relatively cheap
- if your carpet is REALLY RATTY...
- REPLACE it with a CHEAP NEW one
- BUYER won't appreciate an expensive replacement
- choose a LIGHT, NEUTRAL COLOR
- FLOOR TILES:
- REPLACE BROKEN TILES, but do it on the CHEAP
- WINDOWS:
- FIX any CRACKED glass BEFORE SHOWING
- a little WD40 is good for any STUCK SASHES
- DOORS:
- spray WD40 on any SQUEAKY HINGES
- make sure DOORKNOBS work and remember SHINNY
- ODOR CONTROL:
- SMOKERS:
- no offense but TAKE it OUTSIDE
- avoid smoking INDOORS for a WEEK before SHOWING
- OZONE SPRAY can also help
- CAT PEOPLE:
- keep LITTER box FRESH
- DOG PEOPLE:
- if it's NOT COLD, keep your DOG OUTSIDE more
- a sprinkling of CARPET FRESHENER is good
- EXTERIOR:
- MOST IMPORTANT
- BUYER'S FIRST IMPRESSION
- called "CURB APPEAL"
- LANDSCAPING:
- yours s/b at least AVERAGE with the neighborhood
- adding a FEW BUSHES is cheap and helps
- forget NEW TREES
- MATURE trees are too EXPENSIVE
- YOUNG trees are cheap but they DON'T HELP
- plant MATURE COLORFUL FLOWERS
- they're CHEAP and they HELP a lot
- bulbs and seeds will not mature quickly enough
- GRASS:
- s/b NICELY CUT and EDGED
- fix BROWN SPOTS
- do grass FIRST to allow time for fixes to GROW IN
- BACK YARD:
- if you have a POOL or SPA it should be kept up
- SWING SETS and other KIDS' STUFF should be PACKED AWAY
- remember the "NO CLUTTER LOOKS BIGGER" thing
- remember the "IMPERSONAL" thing
- HOUSE EXTERIOR:
- to PAINT or NOT to PAINT
- look at your house from across the street
- if it looks "TIRED" a PAINT job is WORTH the COST
- use a COLOR consistent with the NEIGHBORHOOD
- for some reason, shades of YELLOW are good
- ROOF:
- IMPORTANT: FIX ANY LEAKS!
- if you don't fix it...
- you'll have to DISCLOSE LEAK to BUYER
- and HE'LL DEMAND a NEW ROOF
- if you FAIL to DISCLOSE it...
- you'll likely hear from BUYER'S LAWYER later and...
- he'll have a STRONG CASE AGAINST YOU!
- FRONT DOOR and ENTRYWAY:
- IMPORTANT THAT THIS LOOKS NICE
- creates strong impression
- REPAINT or VARNISH if needed
- remember the "SHINNY DOORKNOB" thing
- DOORKNOB and LOCK should work SMOOTHLY
- looks bad if it has to be fumbled with when showing
- put a NICE DOORMAT down
- even nice ones are cheap
- remove any NAMEPLATES from entryway and mailbox
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