96 ways to make you home sell faster than you competition.

When you are thinking of selling your home there are a number of things you can do to improve the overall impression and make you more money.

You must learn to look at your home through the eyes of the buyer.

Here are some hints, ideas and suggestions to help you

1. Open the curtains, pull up the shades and let in the sunlight.
2. Create a positive mood. Turn on all lights, day or night. Open the curtains during the day.
3. Install higher wattage light bulbs to show your home brightly—in its best light. Turn on all lights.
4. Remove all clutter from each room to make them visually larger.
5. Create the illusion of spaciousness, move furniture around for this effect.
6. If you have a fireplace, highlight it in your decorating.
7. Keep your home dust free and vacuumed at all times.
8. Have a family emergency “game plan” to get the home in order quickly if necessary.
9. Air out your home one-half hour before the showing if possible.
10. Lightly spray the room with air freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse and air before the buyer arrives.
11. Microwave a small dish of vanilla twenty minutes before the showing and place it in an out-of-the-way place in the kitchen.
12. Create a master “suite” effect in your decorating.
13. Make sure that beds are made and the linens and curtains are fresh and clean.
14. Organize your closets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage.
15. Bathrooms should always be kept spotlessly clean.
16. Re-grout if the grouting is not sparkling white!
17. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings.
18. Set the scene by setting the table! Highlight the potential of your dining room by setting a grand dining table!
19. The kitchen should always be kept spotlessly clean.
20. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances.
21. Highlight an eat-in area in your kitchen with a table set for dinner.
22. Shampoo all carpets and vacuum them daily.
23. If the carpet does not clean up well, you should replace it!
24. Improve traffic flow through every room and create a feeling of spaciousness in every room by removing unnecessary furniture, Knick knacks, hobby items, children’s items, etc.
25. However, try to avoid creating a “sterile” looking environment.
26. Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stove tops, walls, etc.
27. Clean rubbish out of the fireplace and keep it clean in the winter.
28. If you have numerous family photos, put them away until your home is Sold. Perspective buyers will feel more like it can be their home if they are not aware of other family photo memories.
29. Remove all unnecessary items from the attic, basement, garage, tool shed, and especially from the storage area if you have one.
30. Rent a storage area for these items or have a garage sale beforehand.
31. Straighten, tidy, and remove unnecessary items from all closets. Put unnecessary items in storage.
32. Fix the Front Doorbell, the ding-dong is very important
33. Invest in a new door mat. – First impressions
34. Make sure the front door, security gate, etc. work wonderfully!
35. Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and by removing all unnecessary clutter.
36. Regardless of the season, tackle spring cleaning. Clean everything in your home from top to bottom.
37. Wash all windows, inside and out.
38. Curtains should be fresh, clean and attractive.
39. Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers to brighten the home.
40. Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies.
41. Straighten, tidy and remove unnecessary items from all closets. Create the feeling of spacious closets. Put all unnecessary items in storage or invest in under-the-bed storage boxes if needed.
42. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps.
43. Depersonalize teenagers’ rooms and decorate in a neutral temperament.
44. Clean or paint the garage walls and floor.
45. Paint all inside walls with light colored paint. Use two or more coats to cover bold, bright or dark walls.
46. All walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger.
47. Repair or replace all doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.
48. Repair or replace banisters and handrails.
49. Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs.
50. Repair or replace loose or dangling wallpaper.
51. If the property shows any signs of water or structural damage it may be necessary to obtain a structural engineer’s report.
52. Replace all toilet bowls if you cannot get them spotlessly clean.
53. Replace shower curtains and keep them clean.
54. Replace the washers in faucets and remove rust stains form basins.
55. Water and prune all plants.
56. Use plants in transitional areas of your home between inside and out.
57. Either get rid of dying plants or keep them out of sight.
58. Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.
59. Open doors to areas you want the potential buyer to see such as walk-in closets, pantries, attic, basement, etc.
60. Close all other closet doors and cabinets.
61. Make the most of your attic’s potential.
62. Make the attic as pleasant as possible by airing it out and decorating it if possible.
63. Add visual appeal to stairways, especially in unfinished stairways to the basement.
64. Keep the garden mowed, raked, fertilized and always watered!
65. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unsightly patio furniture, trash, etc. from the garden.
66. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed.
67. Lawns and gardens should be always weeded.
68. Use flowering plants to dress up the garden, walkways, and patio.
69. All hoses and garden equipment should be neat and out of sight.
70. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean and/or repainted if necessary.
71. Firewood should be neatly stacked or out of sight.
72. Letter boxes should look good as a first impression.
73. Paint and repair the mailbox or replace it if necessary.
74. Make all those minor repairs to the exterior.
75. Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition.
76. Paint all entrance doors.
77. Shades and awnings should be in good condition. Replace if the color has faded.
78. Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.
79. Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc.
80. Take nighttime photos of decorative yard lighting systems.
81. Take pictures of your flowering mature landscaping now if you are planning to sell your home later in the season.
82. Display these photos in your home in the wintertime.
83. Clean and shine all accessories (doorknobs, knockers, lamps, mailboxes, address numbers, etc.).
84. Clean, repair and paint all gutters and downpipes.
85. All roof gutters, tiles, etc. should be secured or replaced. If the roof leaks — fixit!
86. Make sure the garage door opens easily. Fix and paint the garage door if necessary.
87. Paint chimney and replace broken bricks or stones.
88. An investment in painting your home can really make the difference between “turning on” the buyer and sending up a red flag about the condition of the home.

Some final things you can do to help your home sell quickly!

89. Arrive at an equitable asking price using an experienced agent.
90. Don’t be afraid to accept the first offer.
91. Never volunteer information.
92. Obtain a floor plan of your home if possible.
93. Assemble house records for buyer perusal.
94. Provide a map of the area and highlight special interest items.
95. Only consider offers in writing, never negotiate verbally.
96. Always enlist the services of a professional marketing agent.

 YOU ONLY GET ONE FIRST IMPRESSION

Looking for a Great Agent to list and sell your home

Cape Coastal Property Group

Rob 084 576 7378