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When it comes to selling your home condition is so important because it’s often the first impression a potential buyer gets when previewing the home for the first time. The home’s condition has many different meanings to different customers, but I always tell our sellers you rarely have a chance to change that first impression.
When the buyer walks into your home, the instant feeling should be welcoming. It should look and smell clean and inviting. Walls should not have any marks, faded paint, or cracks. Windows should always be clean, lights should work, no leaky faucets, only clean carpets, and no clutter. Most important of all you should remove all of the personal pictures and family items. Depersonalizing your home lets potential buyers visualize what it will look like with their elements in place.
I would say one of the biggest turn-offs to potential buyers is a dirty home. While no buyer expects your home to look like it has never been lived in, they do expect it to be clean. Scrub the kitchen and bathrooms, wash dishes and put them away, remove extra towels in the bathroom, and clean out cupboards. The more time you take to do this, the more quickly you are likely to sell your home.
Here is a quick checklist to help you consider the “Condition” when getting your house ready to sell:
- Take your time and walk through your home. Store, give away, throw, or donate anything that you won’t need until after the move; e.g. furniture, clothing, toys, equipment, worn rugs, papers, books, cosmetics, jewelry, games, CDs, etc.
- Walk through your home again, this time with some tools. Fix loose door knobs, cracked molding, leaky faucets.
- Replace worn or broken door knobs, cabinet fixtures, light fixtures, light switches, outlet plates, faucets and vent covers.
- Clean the fireplace.
- Clean the vents.
- Clean and organize your closets. Add extra space by storing or giving away items.
- Add a fresh coat of paint in light, neutral colors.
- Shampoo the carpet if you have one. Replace if necessary. Clean and wax the floors.
- Vacuum the window blinds, shades, and drapes. Wash or dry clean curtains. Wash all the windows, frames, and sills.
- Add dishes of potpourri (clean linen smells)
- Remove all valuables, such as jewelry, medications, cash, coin collections and so on.
- Open all the window shades to create a spacious and bright look.
- Put pet supplies and dishes in a place where they are not the first thing potential buyers see or smell when they walk into a room.
Choosing the Right Real Estate Agent to Sell your Home
There are those who honestly believe they do not need to hire the services of a professional real estate agent to help when selling. If you want to get a top price when selling your home, you need to hire the services of a highly skilled and professional real estate agent. Even though you will have to pay his or her commission, the amount of money spent will be well worth it. The right agent will aggressively market your home using every form of media at his or her disposal.
He or she will list your home, ensure that it is ready for sale, make sure that it is priced according to established market value for your area and bring potential buyers to showings.
Thinking of selling your home? Let’s start a conversation even if it’s early. Feel free to use our Quick Home Value Estimator and take a look at what your home may sell for today.
And call 305-793-8965
