| Selling a house in today's challenging real estate | | | | sink full of dirty dishes or toys and dirty laundry |
| market can be difficult. But here are 10 easy steps | | | | strewn around are an instant turn-off for prospective |
| you can take to insure your house shows better, | | | | buyers. If your bedding is old and tired, consider |
| sells quicker and for more money. | | | | investing in a new bedspread and plump pillows. |
| 1) Get rid of the wallpaper, especially in the more | | | | 7) Put away the family photos, wedding portraits, |
| public areas of your home. Wallpaper selection is a | | | | college diplomas and sports trophies. These tend to |
| very personal matter - and getting rid of someone | | | | involve buyers in your life instead of helping them to |
| else's wallpaper choice is perceived as being time | | | | imagine themselves living in your home. Same thing |
| consuming and difficult. You want prospective buyers | | | | goes for your collections of figurines, dolls, baseball |
| to imagine themselves living in your house, and for | | | | memorabilia...whatever. You would be very upset if |
| some reason wallpaper often prevents that from | | | | something happened to your precious things - so |
| happening. So, if you have wallpaper, consider taking | | | | pack them up and out of harm's way. |
| it down and repainting a neutral color. | | | | 8) If you have pet odors or someone smokes in |
| 2) Repaint rooms that are now wild and crazy colors. | | | | your home, do your best to eliminate these smells. |
| If you or your children have gotten carried away | | | | And old real estate adage: if you can smell it, you |
| with hot pink or lime green paint on the walls, now is | | | | can't sell it! If you have a dog or cat, it is best to |
| the time to invest in some water-based KILZ and | | | | remove them when buyers are coming. If you can't |
| get the walls back to something neutral. | | | | manage that, place them in a crate in the garage or |
| 3) Make sure the front of your home is welcoming. | | | | basement. |
| Work on the curb appeal - what the buyer sees | | | | 9) Pay special attention to your bathrooms. Make a |
| when they get out of the car. Repaint the front | | | | small investment in new shower curtains, rugs and |
| door, add new brass house numbers or a brass | | | | towels to give the room a fresh, spa-like |
| kickplate, place a festive wreath or other decoration | | | | atmosphere. You don't need to spend lots of money |
| on the door and get a new WELCOME mat. In good | | | | - shop at K-Mart or Target for up-to-date colors and |
| weather, a nice plant or some flowers around the | | | | matching accessories. Be sure your bathrooms are |
| porch also help. Powerwash the steps or siding if it is | | | | sparkling clean and personal care items are stowed in |
| looking dingy. And be sure the key you give your | | | | the cabinets or under the sink. |
| Realtor for the lock box works and turns easily in the | | | | 10) Clear off your countertops in the kitchen. Place all |
| lock. You should also be sure the snow is shoveled or | | | | small appliances out of sight in a closet or in cabinets. |
| the grass is mowed and neatly trimmed. It wouldn't | | | | Take down the notices and children's artwork from |
| hurt to recoat your driveway, too. | | | | the refrigerator. And clean out your closets. Take at |
| 4) Make simple home repairs like dripping faucets and | | | | least 1/3 of the stuff out and store it in the |
| running toilets. It might seem minor to you, but it | | | | basement or garage. You are going to be moving |
| screams delayed maintenance to prospective buyers. | | | | anyway - so get a jump on the packing by showing |
| Also be sure to replace burnt out light bulbs. | | | | off the storage space in your closets. |
| 5) And speaking of the lights, turn them all on in | | | | These are simple, easy, low-cost things you can |
| every room when a showing is scheduled. Take | | | | easily do. Yet, you would be amazed at how many |
| down fancy window coverings that block out the | | | | home owners fail to make this extra effort - and |
| light, especially if they are not included with the sale | | | | how buyers react to homes that are dark and |
| of the property. Be sure drapes are open, blinds are | | | | dreary, messy and dirty and smell bad. In today's |
| up and windows are clean! Buyers are turned off | | | | buyer's market, the buyers are definitely in charge, |
| when looking at dark, gloomy houses. Playing soft | | | | so presenting a neat and clean home that is warm |
| music in the background is a good idea, too. | | | | and inviting will go a long way towards convincing |
| 6) Keep the house picked up, the dishes done and | | | | someone your house is the one for them! |
| the beds made while your house is on the market. A | | | | |