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HOW TO SPEED UP THE SALE OF YOUR HOME!
LANDSCAPING/EXTERIOR
 Landscaping is the “frame that sets the picture.” If buyers do not like what they see from the outside, there is already a barrier to their buying. Keep the lawn fertilized, watered, cut and edged neatly. Remove weeds from the beds and plant flowers for color. Never underestimate “flower power” in winning the buyer’s heart. Caladiums are great for relatively quick color. Have any dead trees removed and keep bushes neatly trimmed. Repaint the mailbox if needed and repaint/restain the front door. This creates a good first impression.
Touch up anywhere inside or out that needs paint, stain, etc. Repaint interior rooms or the exterior where needed with a conservative, neutral color.
If feedback shows people object to the condition of the roof, get bids for repairs. You can replace it, fix it, or drop the price to cover the cost of new roofing. Keep pine needles swept off the roof. Keep the swimming pool/spa clean.
INTERIOR
 Colors - Most of the time old or odd colors hurt rather than help. Though a house may be large, it will look choppy by having different colors in every room. Neutral colors attract more interest than showy colors.
Carpets/Rugs - Nasty carpet can make or break the sale! Brokers often hear “I can’t concentrate on the house because the carpet is so ugly, worn, dirty or damaged.” Smelly rugs must go! Cleaning a carpet may help. It is always better to replace old carpet with a neutral shade before putting your home on the market. The next best alternative is to offer a carpet allowance to the buyer.
Kitchen - The kitchen is the most important room in the house. Thoroughly clean your oven, stove and dishwasher. Make it bright and attractive. If dull, paint cabinets. Put up new perky curtains. Clean the ventilating hood in the kitchen. Straighten up the pantry and line the shelves with fresh paper. Make sure the floors shine. If the kitchen floor is badly worn, put in new flooring. Remove any appliances that you keep on your counters, like a toaster, coffeemaker, can opener, etc. Clean counters make the room look larger.
Bathrooms - In bathrooms, repair all dripping faucets, keep fresh towels out and use special cleaning products to remove stains from toilets, bathtubs and sinks. If sinks or bathtubs drain too slowly, unclog them. It is especially important to remove all mildew and re-caulk tiles and sinks if cracks are showing. Cigarette burns on counter tops can be removed with water and a fine grade of sandpaper by sanding lightly. Remove all items from the top of sinks such as hair dryers, toiletries, etc.
Walls & Ceilings - Have all walls and ceilings in top shape. Cracks need to be fixed. Check ceilings for leak stains, then fix the cause of the damage, repair ceiling and repaint. In painting or redecorating avoid offbeat colors. Stick with easy to work with conventional colors.
PRESENTATION
 Scents - A pleasing smell is important to buyers. Scented candles should be placed in each bathroom. Replace your air filter and place an air freshener inside the returning air vent. Placing cinnamon on a cookie sheet and baking it for a short time will create a pleasing kitchen aroma prior to the showing.
Appearance - Clean out the fireplace and lay some logs in it to make it look inviting. Wash the windows, replace broken glass and mend torn screens. Replace burned out bulbs and low wattage bulbs with higher wattage bulbs (75 watts minimum.) When your house is going to be shown, open up your window coverings to make the home as bright as possible. Turn on all the lights inside the house including ceiling fans to demonstrate their effectiveness. Reduce clutter in house especially in closets, cabinets and garage (rent a storage space if possible.) Overstuffed closets are a sure sign for the buyer to look elsewhere. Excessive furniture makes a home appear smaller than it actually is. Lubricate sticky and squeaky doors. For doors that stick slightly, rub a block of paraffin against the surface that shows signs of wear. For sliding doors that stick in their tracks, rub the tracks with paraffin or candle wax. Have your house exterminated quarterly.
Music - Turn off the TV, turn on the Intercom/radio to a soft music FM station.
Temperature - Keep the temperature of your home at a maximum of 80 degrees in the summer and a minimum of 70 degrees in the winter. Allow a lockbox to be utilized to give your home the maximum exposure to the market place it deserves.
Cleanliness - If you lack the time or inclination to clean your house, have a cleaning service do it. That may be all you need to spend. If the house becomes vacant, have a cleaning service clean the house once every 30 days.
SHOWING YOUR HOME
 Your Family & Pets - Ask your children to leave and take the pets for a walk. Buyers do not like the distraction of pets in your home. Your pooch or precious feline is best kept outside or confined to an area outside the traffic flow. Do not follow the agent around or try to show the home yourself, but rather excuse yourself and leave for a walk, do errands, or visit a neighbor! (Buyers feel freer to discuss the home and will generally spend more time on the property.)
Listing Sheets - Leave them in a highly visible place for agents/clients coming through to pick up.
No Appointment - Do not attempt to show the property if someone stops by and knocks on your door. Take their name and phone number and give them your agent’s name and phone number. You do not know why they want to see the inside of your home. We will prescreen and qualify them for you.
When you leave the house, complete the following checklist:
- Beds made
- Rooms picked up
- Trash dumped
- Kitchen cleaned
- Closets neat
- Window coverings open for maximum light
- Stereo music on low for a showing
- Carpets vacuumed/clean
- Counter tops in kitchen clean & clear of items
- Sink tops in bathrooms clean & clear of items
- At night, turn on the porch lights and all outdoor lighting for a showing
- Bikes, wagons, skateboards should not be out in front.
- Do not mention furniture or furnishings you want to dispose of unless asked. Such discussions can hinder the sale.
Working together we will be successful in getting your home sold!
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