First impression is everything! A small investment in time and money will give your home the edge over other homes in the area when the time comes to show it to a prospective buyer.
General Maintenance - The home’s curb appeal will create an instant and irreversible first impression with every buyer. Use this checklist to make sure your listing is dressed for success.
¨ Paint the trim and front door.
¨ Plant flowers and pull weeds.
¨ Clean the downspouts and gutters.
¨ Clean the screens and windows.
¨ Power wash the sidewalks and driveway.
¨ Mow the grass and apply new bark mulch.
¨ Replace outside light bulbs.
¨ Wash the house exterior or paint, if needed.
¨ Clean or replace house numbers.
Create a warm environment - Every home should offer the potential buyer a warm, friendly, welcoming experience especially during the first showing. What greets the buyer on the other side of the sellers front door? Things to consider are as follows:
¨ Consider the smell of the home (Candles, baking, diffuser)
¨ Replace light bulbs and clean drapes, blinds and windows.
¨ Have the carpets professionally cleaned or replaced
¨ Paint or wash the walls.
¨ Clean the doors, cabinets and closets.
¨ Dust the home and remove cobwebs.
¨ Clean the appliances.
¨ Paint or clean the baseboards.
¨ Re-caulk the bathtubs and showers.
¨ Replace the cracked or damaged outlets covers.
3. Remove barriers from the relationship - buyers need to build an emotional bond with a home before they can make a decision to purchase the home. Help them by removing potential barriers.
¨ Pack and store seasonal clothing.
¨ Remove unused furniture.
¨ Remove personal photo clutter and pack.
¨ Secure pets before each showing.
¨ Remove and replace fixtures not included with the sale.
¨ Encourage sellers to leave the home during showings.
4. Tell a story and be interesting - buyers want a home that stands out from the competition. Does each room in your home tell a story? What can you visualize happening in each room as you walk through the home? This is often referred to as staging the home.
¨ Set the kitchen table.
¨ Turn down the master bedroom lights and place a book on the nightstand.
¨ Display an opened board game in the children’s room.
¨ Turn on soft, classical music.