Step
3- How to Prepare Your Property
It's time to get your home in "showing
and selling" condition. Most of us don't keep our homes in the
condition it would need to be in to sell. Over the years those
boxes in the corner of the garage just seem to multiply on their
own. Things have broken that we just never get around to fixing
and some things have just worn out. We just accept the fact
that they will always be this way. It is this frame of mind
that you have to break out of in order to get your house ready
to show. How your home looks will have an immense impact on
how quickly it sells and whether or not you get full market
value for it.
First impressions are very important
and you only get to make one. Your real estate agent, who is
interacting in the marketplace every day, can assist you in
approaching your home from the buyer's standpoint. What needs
to be changed to make a good first impression? This may mean
that all you do is prune the trees and shrubs. On the other
hand, it may mean that you completely repaint the house, inside
and out. Do a "curb to door" check. Give the potential buyers
a clear path to enter the home. The fewer obstacles between
the buyer and the true appeal of your home the better. Keep
in mind that over time we become accustomed to our surroundings.
What's normal for you may be detrimental to the buyer.
Make your home look as spacious
as possible. Organize your closets and kitchen cabinets, and
if you have things stored in the attic or basement, make sure
they are presentable. If you are showing during the day, pull
back your curtains and drapes to show how bright and cheery
your home is. If you are showing at night, turn on all of the
lights to create a warm and welcoming environment for the prospective
buyers. A home that is marked with your personality and style
may be harder to sell. You might even consider such things as
removing obvious clues to your political affiliation and tucking
away any biased literature that may be visible. This will reduce
distractions and help the buyers to visualize the home as their
own.
