Since we've been married, Chad and I have bought three homes and sold two. The homes we've sold both had great offers after their very first showings, and sold within weeks of listing-the second selling to the first people who looked at it. How did we do it? By spending minimal amounts of money and maximum amounts of energy to show our homes to their best advantage. What follows looks like a lot of work-and it is. But statistics show that home buyers decide whether or not they'll buy a house within 15 seconds of walking in. Let's make those 15 seconds count.
1. Listen To The Experts
As soon as you decide on a Realtor, invite him over to walk through the house. An experienced real estate agent will give you tips on furniture placement and any repairs you need to make. Listen to what he says. I can't stress this enough. Our Realtors have told us story upon story of homes that sat on the market for months because owners refused to make small changes they recommended. When we did the initial walk through with our agent for the last home we sold, one idea he had was to rearrange our bedroom furniture so that it would open up the space. We followed his advice and saw what a difference the changes made to the flow in our room.
2. Box Up The Clutter
Once you know you'll be moving, start to throw away or box up all that extraneous stuff that you don't need to use on a daily basis. Some obvious examples include:
newspapers and magazines
kids' toys
out-of-season decor and clothing
extra shoes, hats, and jackets
personal mementos and photos
chotchkes
dead plants
artificial plants
old makeup
hair accessories and products
Store the filled and labeled boxes neatly in your basement, attic, or garage.
3. Clean, Clean, Clean
And then clean some more. Seriously, nothing is as unattractive for potential buyers as walking into a home that looks, feels, or smells icky. Choose a weekend when you can give your home a deep cleaning. Or, if it's in your budget, pay someone to clean if for you. Remember to:
Clean carpets
Scrub floors
Scour all bathroom and kitchen surfaces
Clean out and organize all cupboards (buyers will open everything) in the bathrooms and kitchen, including the medicine cabinets
Clean our your closets so that they look roomy, rather than crammed with clothing. This tricks the eye into seeing closets and cupboards that look are larger than they are.
Dust
Vacuum
Polish
Clean light fixtures
Get rid of pet hair and odors
Clean the oven and microwave
De-grease appliances and cupboards
Wipe fingerprints from doorways and light switch covers
Wash curtains and throw rugs
Organize bookshelves and cupboards (people will be looking inside)
4. Maximize Curb Appeal
First impressions are everything. Most buyers will do a drive-by to scope out the neighborhood and exterior of your home before they ever schedule a personal showing. If your curb appeal stinks, they'll never bother to step foot inside. By spending a minimal amount of money, and a fair amount of elbow grease, you can draw those potential buyers right in. Here are some specific things you can do to spruce up your yard and entry.
Winter:
Shovel snow and keep walks salted
Put away shovels, sleds, and snow toys
Clean mud and tracks off your front porch and walk way
Make sure flower beds are neat as possible (yes, you can buy mulch in January)
During the holiday season, keep your decorations minimal and classy (no giant inflatable snowmen!)
Spring:
Spring is generally one of the best times to sell a home, so use this to your advantage.
Put away those Christmas decorations!
Have your windows and siding washed.
Tidy up the flower beds.
Trim shrubs.
Remove porch and deck clutter.
Summer:
Mow and fertilize the lawn regularly. Seed bare patches. If it's looking a little dry and brown, you can buy a spray product that golf courses use to make your lawn appear more lush and green.
Forgo planting annuals-too much watering and maintenance. Instead, buy a few planters of flowers to place at your entrance. Keep flower beds mulched, weeded, and watered.
Whether or not you plan to take them with you, dismantle big yard items like trampolines, swing sets and inflatable pools. Most buyers won't want them.
If you have a swimming pool, keep it clean and sparkling with all pool toys put neatly away, and deck furniture clean.
Fall:
Again, keep your lawn and planting beds mulched and tidy.
Rake leaves and generally clean up the yard.
Keep seasonal decorations to an absolute minimum (don't clutter up your porch with hay stacks and corn stalks)
Keep your walk and entry swept and neat.
Remove and store all window a/c units.
5. Paint, Repair, Replace
Making small improvements and repairs will give a huge payoff when you list. Buyers don't tend to have the vision to see what a home can be; they see what it is. And every flaw they notice will make them think there are ten more flaws hidden behind the drywall.
Wallpaper equals work. If you have it, take it down and paint. If your rooms are painted dark or garish colors, they will seem small and claustrophobic. Painting is work, and no buyer wants to walk into a home that needs a full paint job.
When painting, choose neutral colors that can fit many styles of decor. Light khaki colors tend to be best. If you already have neutral colors, go around and touch up walls and trim to make everything look freshly painted. One thing to keep in mind: avoid painting every room white, as that tends to make rooms appear cold and sterile.
If your carpet is worn or dated (or pink) ask your realtor if you should replace it. In some markets, you will get an appropriate return on that investment.
Replace old light switches, outlets, and covers with new, white ones. Replace burnt out light bulbs in every light fixture and lamp (inside and out) with CFL bulbs. If you have dated or broken light fixtures, replace them. New ceiling lights can cost as little as $10.
Replace loose or outdated cabinet and door hardware.
Oil hinges so nothing squeaks when opened.
Replace dingy shower curtains and bath rugs with new, neutral ones.
Camouflage scratches in wood floors and trim with oils designed for that purpose. I've used these:
It's a lot of time and work to do this, I know. But believe me when I say that it's worth it if you want to get the best price possible, as quickly as possible. Be sure to share your own tips and tricks for home staging success!
In me next post, I'll tell you how to stage your home for photos, open houses and individual showings.
Click HERE to read Part 2 of this series.
{alison}