20 Tips to Help Sell Your Home

Preparing Your Home for Showing

In addition to the tips below I will help point out options unique to your home that will help buyers to see all of it's best qualities and imagine themselves living there.

1. Make the most of that first impression

When a potential buyer comes to look at your home, it is important that they have the perception that your home is well taken care of. A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter free yard and entryway will give way to a great first impression. So does a freshly painted-or at least freshly scrubbed front door. If it is autumn make sure that you rake up the leaves and branches. If it is winter, shovel the walkways and make sure they are free of ice. Remember you only have one chance to make a first impression, make it a good one.

2. What you show is what you get, invest a few hours for future dividends

Dirty or faded walls and worn woodwork will reduce the appeal of your home. Invest some time and money in repainting and repairing these problem areas. Why tell potential buyers how good your home could look when they would rather see how good it actually looks. A little bit of "elbow grease" can go a long way. It will pay dividends for you.

3. Let the sun shine in

Open up your curtains and drapes so that the buyer can see how bright and cheerful your home is. It will also give the appearance that the rooms are larger than they are.

4. Fix that leaky faucet, change that dead bulb

Dripping water alerts the buyer that there may be a problem with the plumbing and discolors porcelain making for a bad appearance. Burnt out bulbs leave the buyer in the dark - literally - and detract from the warmth and beauty of your home.

5. Don't shut out a sale, little things mean a lot

Make sure that cabinets or doors don't stick, or have loose knobs on them. Make sure that your windows open up freely and all locks are in working order. Don't try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily alleviate the problem.

6. Think safety first and always

Keep all stairways and entrances clear and clean. Homeowners learn to live with self-imposed booby traps such as skateboards, extension cords, bunched up cloths or boxes, however you don't want to detract your potential buyers attention to focusing on dodging messes rather on the appeal of your homes charm.

7. Make the most of the space you have

Go through your attic, closets, storage spaces,or basement and clean and organize them. Now would be a good time to get together those items that would make for a great yard sale or donation to your favorite charity. Remember a well maintained and organized closet or storage space will give the appearance of a much larger home not to mention buyers are looking for a home that will have enough room for all their miscellaneous stuff they will never use as well.

8. Make your bathrooms sparkle

Scrub every inch of the bathroom. Check and repair ant damage or discolored caulking in the bathtubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and curtains. A sparkling bathroom will let the buyer know how well you have cared for the home and will give a positive image when it comes to look at the rest of the home.

9. Bedrooms shouldn't be sleepy

Wake up the buyers to the comforts of your bedrooms. Keep these bright and cheerful. Colorful bedspreads and pillows are a must. Fresh curtains and polished furniture add to the allure of the room.

10. Shine on and light up the night

Turn on the excitement by turning on on all your lights - both inside and out. Make sure that you use high wattage soft light bulbs, this serves as a welcome sign to that prospective buyer and adds warmth to your home.

11. Avoid crowded scenes

Don't have too many people present during the showing of your home. It is best for you to make arrangements to be somewhere else during the showing. It will help the potential buyer from feeling like an intruder and forcing them to hurry through the home. Remember, you want them to envision themselves living in these spaces.

12. Don't pump up the volume

When showing your home turn down the music or T.V. Low soothing music will not distract the buyer and agent from talking freely about the beauty of your home.

13. Keep Spot or Fluffy in a safe place

Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when showing your home. Animals can be a great distraction. Remember the buyer is there to buy your home not meet your pets. Keep all pets out of the way and secured. This will also ensure your pets are safe and unthreatened by strangers in your home.

14. Relax, silence is golden

Be courteous and friendly, but don't try to force conversation with the buyer. They are there to inspect the home and don't want to be distracted in idle conversation.

15. Don't apologize or draw attention

Never apologize or point out what you may think are the shortcomings of your home. If a buyers offers a derogatory comment about your homes appearance, let your experienced Real Estate Professional handle the situation. Your agent is trained to turn a negative situation into a positive one.

16. Keep a low profile, stay in the background

If possible, it is best to leave while prospective buyers are touring your home. If this is not an option, stay out of site as much as possible. A Real Estate Professional knows the buyers needs and desires and can better emphasize the virtues of your home when you are not "tagging along". If there are any questions or concerns presented the agent will refer to you at a later time if needed.

17. Don't turn your home into a Second-Hand Store

When potential buyers come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell them furnishings that you are not intending on taking with you. You may lose the biggest sale of all.

18. Defer to experience

When potential buyers want to talk price, terms, possession, or other real estate matters, let the expert handle all these negotiations. Your agent has been trained and their experiences with these dealings will result in a much more favorable conclusion.

19. Be flexible

Keeping your home spotless and being able to have your home available on a moments notice can be very stressful. But those homeowners who are flexible and are willing to have their home shown at any time are usually the ones that sell their home more quickly.

20. Help your agent help you

It is important to show your home to prospective buyers only by appointment through the real estate office. This allows the agent to coordinate the showings and make inquires as to the results of the showings, which in turn will result in a quicker sale.