Article Title: 7 Steps to Sell Your House in Twenty Seconds
Author Name: Joanne Victoria
Contact E-mail Address: mailto:joanne@joannevictoria.com
Word Count: 1179
Category: Real Estate Sales
Copyright Date: 2007
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7 Steps To Sell Your House in Twenty Seconds

Did you know that purchasing a home is an emotional process?

Most people decide in less than twenty seconds, yes, twenty
seconds if a particular house is for them.

Not only that, but buyers look at an average of twelve
homes before they make the momentous decision to
buy a home.

That means your home must compete with at least these
eleven other properties. Then, you must sell to the Multiple
Listing service members, first, before you can sell to the
buyer of your home.

A lot of work for you as well as your listing agent to
complete to compete.

Yes, there is the financing end of the transaction. However,
the price range of the home and the mortgage parameters
are usually (or should be!) determined prior to buyers’ looking
at available properties.

Listed below are
Seven Steps to Sell Your House in Twenty Seconds

1. Clean! Clean! Clean!

Your home can never be clean enough. Do whatever it takes
to see that your house looks as brand new as possible,
especially in the clean department.

a. Pull out your refrigerator and clean behind and on top of it.
b. Check all your baseboards. If they are damaged, first clean,
and then paint them. Easy and cheap enough to do.
c. Check all the doorframes throughout your home. Again,
clean and paint, if needed.
d. Each and every day during the marketing of your home,
keep it clean. Dust, vacuum and wash those windows to their
brilliant clarity.

2. Organize
Go through all your closets, cabinets and drawers.

Start with the kitchen. Throwaway any old spices and
foodstuff you have not used in over six months. This will
also make your move easier. If there is anything on your
countertop bigger than a football, remove it. Have only
items of color or clarity on your countertops and furniture.

Next, go to your Fibber and McGee closet. A Fiber and
McGee closet is one where you can be buried by its contents.

Most times it is a hall closet. Remove everything, keep
only what is necessary and if the closet is still too full, store it.

New homebuyers want to know that their new home has
plenty of storage space.

No one is interested in your lifestyle, just your home, so
please remove any collectibles.

This is not personal, just business.

If you have a carport, garage or deck, do the same thing.
Whatever you do not need, store or eliminate.

3. Eliminate Clutter
Get rid of any and everything that is unnecessary to your
life during the marketing process. Get rid of extra furniture,
golf trophies, knick-knacks, any collection you have that
is extremely personal.

Pay for a storage unit or rent a Pod.

Again, people do not want to see your stuff, they want
to visualize their stuff.

Check your drapes, window coverings and shower curtains.
If they look dingy or are dusty, either clean or replace.

Also replace the shower curtain liner. No mold, please! If the
shower curtain is dated or flowery, replace with a simple
neutral colored shower curtain.

4. Repairs and Paint
Replace all light bulbs with higher wattage bulbs, upgrade
all attached light fixtures and replace any damaged switch
plates. Remember, if your house looks as if you have
taken care of it, it will sell easier.

Is your doorbell out of order? Then replace it. Are the
baseboards in your home damaged from the vacuum
cleaner? Again, repair and paint as needed.

Do your kitchen cabinets look dated? If possible, freshen
with a paint job. You can sand and re-stain or just clean them.

Make sure all the walls are of a neutral color. Designer
walls have to go. Deep colors may make the rooms
appear smaller; your home must look as much like a
furniture showroom as possible. Save yourself time and
dollars by doing this work first.

Repaint the existing baths even if you do not think they
need it. They do. Use neutral colors and repaint the
ceilings as well. Paint your entryway, even if it looks
great to you. A fresh coat of paint is cheap and works wonders.

5. Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is about first impressions. Your home better
look good from the outside, first. Replace any dead
flowers and plants with new ones. Replace and water
any dead grass, mow and water frequently. Your local
nursery will have the newest products to help your
lawn grow fast.

If the outside of your home needs painting, do it. It will help
sell your home, even if it costs a little money and time.
You will get it back in the sales price.

Go across the street and be extremely critical of how your
house looks. If it needs painting, do all the other steps first,
then consider the painting project. Even if you do not paint
the entire exterior, paint your front door a fresh,
bright neutral color.

6. Light it Up!
Let people see what they are getting. Increase wattage in
all your light bulbs and add up-lights in dark corners. Your
local hardware or box store has these and they work wonders.

Double check your exterior lights and increase wattage here
as well.

Your entry, inside and out, must be extremely well lit. Replace
low wattage bulbs and if needed upgrade your light fixtures.

7. Fresh, Fresh Smells!
If you are a smoker, do it outside, if at all. Purchase a
spray that will remove odors without masking them.
If you have cats, empty kitty litter boxes daily. If you have
dogs, keep the dog outside. Consider sprinkling odor
eater products on your carpets, as home buying prospects’
noses are sensitive to new or different smells.
Consider placing fresh lemons or oranges in a bowl on
your dining room table. Much better and less expensive than
fresh cut flowers, and they last longer!
Bonus tip:
Price your home to sell. If you are testing the market,
reconsider going through all the stress of listing your home.
Choose the right realtor who will tell you the truth, not just
what you want to hear. An experienced real estate agent
should know the market, the comparison sales in your area,
as well as what buyers want.
The willing buyer/willing seller concept stands out against
over- priced listings or uneducated real estate agents. Price
your home right.
Your home will sell to someone at the right price, as long as
you follow the above tips and list it for the right price –
in twenty seconds or less!
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Joanne Victoria, owner of New Directions and author of
"Vision With a Capital V - Create the Business of Your Dreams",
with over 25 years of experience in real estate coaching
and consulting, works with real estate agents and
brokers who want more focus and clarity, more
satisfaction and more fun in order to get what
they really want. You can reach Joanne at:
mailto: mailto:Info@NewDirectionsinRealEstate.com
By phone at:360-377-2995.
Book orders in the US: 888-503-2665.
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