Sellers

Selling Your Home: Think Like A Buyer

First Impressions

The saying, "you only have one chance to make a first impression", is true in oh so many ways. Sellers who capitalize on the opportunity to ensure that the first impression a prospective buyer has is positive, will generally find that their home attracts more interest and more offers.

Buyers looking to purchase a home are influenced by the same senses and stimulus as those who buy cars or furniture, or even produce at a grocery store. The only difference is that the home is even more personal. These senses include sight, smell, hearing, touch and fear.

Remember what first attracted you to your house when you bought it? What excited you about it most? When you consider preparing your home for sale, try to put yourself in the buyer's shoes. Think like a buyer!

A clean house, free of clutter, makes a great first impression on potential buyers. An attractive property grabs their attention and makes them excited about finding a house that looks and feels well cared for. If you pay attention to the finer details, potential buyers will believe they'll encounter fewer problems if they buy it - your house becomes more appealing and stands out from the competition. So, if you prepare your home correctly, you'll save time selling it when it's on the market..

A good first impression makes an impact on a number of levels. It’s not just the way your house looks to potential buyers, but how it feels and smells to them, how their friends and family will react. You want them to imagine themselves living in your home.

Simple improvements carried out throughout your house can grab the attention of potential buyers and help them see why your house is THE ONE.

Plan Ahead

Create a plan to enhance your property. Keep a notebook, and as you stroll through your home and yard, make a list of what needs to be done.

Curb Appeal

Start from the street view. Consider what your property looks like to people driving by or walking to your door. Remember, this will be the first live impression potential customers have of your property. This is also the first impression they will have when looking at your home listing on the Internet or printout.
What needs fixing, painting, cleaning? What can you do to make that first impression a WOW? Whether you paint your house or fix up the yard, your efforts don’t need to be costly; even inexpensive improvements and minor repairs go a long towards attracting serious buyers. Remember, those seemingly insignificant problems you’ve learned to live with can actually discourage potential buyers.

Here are some additional ideas for increasing your home’s appeal in order to sell it quickly at the best price:
Interior

Clean Everything

If you can see it – clean it. A spotless house, inside and out, makes a great impression so clean everything, especially your windows, window sills and blinds (if you have them). Scrub walls and floors, tile and ceilings, cupboards and drawers, kitchen and bathrooms, ceiling fans, and baseboards. Wash scuff marks from doors and entryways, clean light fixtures (replace burnt bulbs) and the fireplace. Don’t forget the laundry room. And put away your clothes.

If you smoke, consider smoking outside or in the garage while the home is listed for sale. Because the majority of the population now do not smoke, smoke in the home will be noticeable and may discourage an otherwise impressed buyer. It is also a good idea to open up the house for fresh air prior to any showings ( weather permitting, of course). Even if you do not smoke in your home, fresh air is always a good idea prior to showings.

Cut the Clutter

Clutter makes a home look smaller. It’s a turn off. Remember, potential buyers are buying your house, not your furniture, so help them picture themselves and their possessions in your home by making your rooms feel large, light, neutral, and airy. This is a great time to purge your home of forgotten and no longer wanted items. As you clean, pack away your personal items, such as pictures, valuables, and collectibles, and store or get rid of surplus books, magazines, videotapes, extra furniture, rugs, blankets, etc. Consider renting a storage unit to eliminate clutter in your garage and attic.

It’s hard to get rid of possessions, but cleaning and clearing out the clutter can really pay off in the end. Packing away your clutter also gets you started packing for your next move. Make your garage and basement as tidy as the rest of your house. Simple little tasks such as storing your tools and neatly rolling up your garden hose suggest that you take good care of your house. Don’t let anything detract from making your best first impression.

Closets

They’re an important consideration to many buyers. If your closets are tightly packed, they will give the impression that your home is short on storage space. By storing clothing you won’t use soon, you’ll make closets look more spacious.

Paint

A new coat of paint cleans up your living space and makes it look bright and new. Light Neutral colors , such as beige or white, will appeal to the most people, and makes rooms look larger.

Carpet

It will be noticed early. If it’s worn, consider replacing it. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned. It’s an easy and affordable way to help sell your home faster. Light, neutral colors, such as beige, are best. If it is worn and needs replacing, you can suggest to potential buyers that they could select new carpet and you’ll reduce your price; buyers like to hear they’re getting a deal. At the very least, have your carpet cleaned.

Repairs and Renovations

Many buyer typically request a home inspector to inspect provide a satisfactory report on the condition of a property prior to fully committing to completing a purchase. With this in mind, a little work in preparation can make for a more positive report by the home inspector.

Make minor repairs to items such as leaky faucets, slow drains, torn screens, damaged gutters, loose doorknobs, and broken windows. Make sure repairs are well done; buyers won’t take you seriously if your home improvement efforts look messy, shoddy, or amateurish.

If you’re considering making major renovations just to sell the house, Reconsider. Most often you will be unlikely to recoup those costs in your selling price.

Leaks and Moisture

If you have moisture issues or leaks, it is best to have them fixed properly. Trying to hide or cosmetically cover up a problem of this nature will only cause more problems. Water stains on ceilings or in the basement alert buyers to potential problems. If you’ve fixed the water problem, repair the damage and disclose in writing to the buyer what repairs were made.

Exterior

Paint/Stain

Peeling or blistering paint and faded stain on the deck or siding indicates that the house is in need o a little TLC. A newly painted or stained exterior will help sell your house faster, and whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll also increase your home’s value.

The Yard

Grab people’s attention by enhancing your yardscaping. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.

• Prune bushes and hedges; trim trees.
• Keep your lawn looking healthy and green by mowing it often, fertilizing it, and keeping it edged and trimmed.
• Clean up and dispose of pet mess.
• Weed your gardens; add fertilizer and mulch and plant colorful flowers.
• In winter, keep your driveway and sidewalks shoveled, de-iced, and well-lit.
• Stack firewood, clean out birdbaths, repair and paint fences. If your house looks inviting and well-maintained from the street, people will imagine that it’s attractive on the inside, too.

The Front Door

The front entry will be the next first impression. That walk to the front door will often set the mood for the rest of the viewing. You want to make this impression - and a a welcoming one, so, highlight this area of your house with decorative touches, such as a wreath on the door or new shrubs and flowers around the steps.

For an even grander entry, clean and paint your front door, or replace it with a new one for a few hundred dollars. Don’t forget to fix and polish doorknobs, repair torn screens, and then put out a new welcome mat.

Cleaning and Maintenance Checklist:

• Windows, sills, and screens
• Walls and floor
• Tile
• Ceilings
• Cupboards and drawers
• Kitchen
• Bathrooms
• Light fixtures
• Ceiling fans
• Carpet and rugs
• Mirrors
• Garage
• Attic
• Basement
• Laundry room
• Yard
• Gutters
• Replace furnace filter
• Dust furniture, TV and computer screens
• Closets
• Remove clutter
• Pack personal items
  

Repair

• Leaky faucets and plumbing
• Torn screens
• Slow drains
• Gutters
• Loose doorknobs
• Deck boards
• Broken windows
• Electrical fixtures
• Water stain damage
• Broken appliances
• Damaged walls and ceilings
• Worn carpet and rugs
• Damaged sidewalks and steps
  

Improvements

• Stain or paint deck
• Store tools
• Roll up garden hose
• Paint or stain exterior
• Prune bushes and hedges
• Trim trees
• Mow lawn, fertilize, edge, and trim
• Weed gardens - prune plants and flowers
• Shovel driveways, de-ice
• Stack firewood
• Clean out birdbaths
• Caulk windows and doors
• Repair and paint fences
• Seal asphalt driveway
• Make sure doors close properly
• Enhance entryway
• Replace welcome mat
  

These elements are no secret – selling anything is about presenting it as favorably as possible, and a home is no exception. With the right Realtor® and the right presentation, you may find that selling your home is a painless, quick, profitable process!