| Spring is the time to sell houses. The market speeds | | | | Easy enough, right? So why not take the time to |
| up in the Spring which also means competition gets | | | | clean all windows (and mirrors) throughout the house. |
| heavy. Setting your home apart from the | | | | Sparkling windows will help make your home look |
| competition is up to you and your efforts. You only | | | | new. The cleaner the better. |
| have one chance to make a first impression and a | | | | 4. De-personalize |
| good first impression is the only way to sell a home. | | | | Pack up those family photos. As an Interior Designer |
| 1. Landscape/Curb appeal | | | | and Realtor, I understand the difference between |
| The winter can be brutal on our landscaping. It seems | | | | staging a home for sale and designing a home to live |
| like all the color in our yards just disappears in the | | | | in. If you are selling your home you must keep in |
| winter. Well, the Spring is the time to put that color | | | | mind that your house is now a commodity. When |
| back! Most likely the flower beds are covered with | | | | you list your home, you have to separate yourself |
| dry leaves and debris. So first things first-clean out | | | | from any sentimental attachments to the house. It's |
| the flower beds (grass, patio and porch if needed). | | | | about marketing! Your personal items may mean a lot |
| With the powerful leaf blowers available these days, | | | | to you and your family, but buyers may or may not |
| it won't take long to have it all clean and ready for | | | | feel the same way. Think model home. Think generic. |
| fresh landscaping! Next, if you don't have good basic | | | | 5. Organize/De-Clutter |
| shrubs, plant those first. Although shrubs and | | | | Clutter can be distracting to buyers as they are |
| greenery are great for creating a base for your | | | | trying to imagine themselves living in a home. As you |
| landscaping, color will add that extra pop that buyers | | | | prepare your home for sale, think simple! It might not |
| will love! | | | | be the style you normally like, but it will showcase |
| 2. Touch up Paint | | | | your home better than a home covered up with |
| Inside and out, your home should look its best. If the | | | | knick-knacks (no offense!). We all have accessories |
| front door in need of a new coat of paint, it would in | | | | that we love but keep in mind that you want to |
| your best interest to put a fresh coat on it before | | | | appeal to the "general public"-again, generic. |
| buyers see the house. The front door is likely to be | | | | One criterion most buyers look for in a home is... |
| the first thing a buyer will see-since this is usually the | | | | drum roll... storage! Utilizing the storage in your home |
| door they will enter for a showing. And hey if the | | | | and making it look perfect will showcase this feature. |
| front door is in poor condition, they might be on alert | | | | If you have too much to make it look good, box |
| for the rest of the house to be the same. | | | | some up and store it elsewhere. |
| It's not just the exterior that should be shiny and | | | | Selling your house depends on your efforts. Take the |
| new. The inside walls get scuffed up over time and | | | | necessary steps to ensure that your home will stand |
| buyers would much rather buy a home that has been | | | | out among the competition. Local real estate |
| maintained-and dirty, scuffed-up walls aren't a sign | | | | professionals can assist you in preparation for selling |
| that a home has been cared for. | | | | your home. |
| 3. Clean windows | | | | |