When it comes time to sell your home, remember you never get a second chance to make a great first impression. How would a buyer perceive your home when pulling in the driveway, knocking on the door and then stepping into the foyer?  Start with the curb appeal.  Cut the grass, trim shrubs, manicure mulch beds and seal driveways.  I suggest pine straw needles for the mulch beds.  It’s less mess, faster to put down and it does not have an odor.  Walk to the front door.  Often times when people have homes with garages they tend to seldom visit the front door.  I advise walking to the front door as a guest to your home.  Is everything neat and clean, door bells working, kick plate shinning, glass is clean, fresh coat of paint around the trim and door.  Even take it a step further and replace the door knob.  They tend to get faded and stiff after several years of age.  Everything should shine.

 

After helping thousands of people realize their dreams of home ownership and closing 1300 real estate transactions, it’s the inevitable, if a home has a immaculate front door and entry the rest of the home is always be spotless.  These are the homes that buyers gravitate towards.  Neat, clean, light, bright and smelling good. 

 

Start with de-cluttering, ask yourself, do the carpets need cleaning or replacing?  Do walls need touching up?  Is there a smoke or pet odor? Take it one room at a time.  Is amazing what a little paint, cleaning and calking will do to make a great first impression.  I have compiled a check list of the most common items for sprucing up before selling a home.

 

- Repaint walls with light neutral earth tones

- Add water to latex paints when touching up. This will allow older painted walls to match.

- If you have pet or smoke odor place ½ vinegar and ½ water in a large bowl.  Place in the center of the room.  Replace with fresh water and vinegar daily.  The vinegar is a neutralizer and will not smell like vinegar but eliminate the oder.  This works great!

- Change you air return filters.  Place a couple of bounty sheets over the filter. 

- Straighten closets so you can see the floors.

- Photographs speak a thousand words and we take lots of them. 

- Replace light bulbs as needed. . . Brighter the better

- Clear off all counter tops both bathroom and kitchen tops

- Pools should be cleaned and crystal clear

- Kitchens and Bathrooms that sparkle sell homes

- Do you carpets need cleaning or replacing? 

- Tighten loose door knobs

- Check all faucets for leaks

- Let the sun shine in, open all blinds before showings

- Turn on all the lights. 

- Turn on pleasant music at a low tone

- Light candles if you have time. . . Never leave them burning unattended

- Take a walk with pets and family, it’s best to leave the home while it’s being shown

- When you list your home with my team, we give you feed back from ever showing.

- Always paint baths and hall ways with light colors. 

 

 

The emotions you’re trying to stimulate are triggered by sensory experiences.  Clean fresh smelling homes will always sell faster.  The neatest and cleanest home is always the quickest to sell.  We as consumers often see things how they are and not how they are going to be.  In today’s real estate market, most people want to purchase a neat place to call home with out spending thousands of dollars.   

 

For more valuable money saving tips on selling and buying your new home go to www.WayneTurnerGroup.com   or give me a call. . .985-789-9243

 

 

 

- Wayne Turner, Broker