When a potential buyer walks through your front door first impressions will count, especially now that we have entered a new phase of house price uncertainty. Therefore it is vital that you ensure that you present your home in the best possible light. Moving house is a stressful experience but by following some simple tips you will improve the chances of your home being sold at a realistic price, and ease some of the anxiety.
Firstly, it is important to plan the viewings. Be firm with your estate agent and tell them to give you plenty of notice of viewing appointments. Remember when potential buyers walk through the front door they are not your friends, don't feel compelled to offer drinks or chat too much, and definitely don't be pushy.
The prospective buyer will get their first impression as they approach your front door, so it is important that the exterior of the property is pleasing to the eye. Tidy the garden, drive and footpath, make sure that your windows are clean and if required, put a lick of paint on your front door. If you have children then clear away toys, including those in the garden and on the patio.
If you own pets arrange for friends or neighbors to have them before a viewing, or better still for a whole week so that you can eliminate their odor. They may be your best furry friends, but not everyone is so keen on little critters and overpowering animal smells could put off prospective purchasers. Masking bad smells with air ?fresheners? may also back fire, especially if the artificial odors are too perfumed.
Remove clutter from all rooms in the house, especially the entrance and the main living area. Put all unnecessary junk out of sight, perhaps in the loft. If you have a coat stand or hooks, remove half the coats.
Little touches also help, especially in the bathroom. First make sure it is sparkling clean and nasty odors are eliminated by giving it a good airing before your viewers arrive and lay out a matching set of bathroom towels that complements the room's decor. Remove hairs and other unsightly items from the sinks and plug holes.
Remember to make the beds, and for small rooms ensure light colored bed linen is on display. Put away family photos before viewings, purely because it helps de-personalize the property and allow others to see it as a potential home rather than as your home.
Although redecoration isn't always necessary, consider giving a face lift to dated kitchens by replacing or painting the cupboard doors and keep things as neutral as possible so that buyers can see their furniture in the house; avoid black or brightly colored walls.
Finally, although it may sound like a clich?, buy fresh flowers because they look and smell great, but forget putting fresh coffee on the boil - that is an overused clich?!
In a year when a record 5,900 new condos are scheduled to be completed, a home owner who is trying to sell faces a huge amount of competition. With so many pre-construction condos, renovated lofts and scores of single family homes available, buyers have the luxury of taking their time to pick from a seemingly endless supply from which to chose. Aside from the obvious selling points of a good location, great architectural design, luxurious interior details and finishes or attractive floor plan, there are a few fairly simple and affordable things you can do to make your condo or home stand out from the crowd and sell more quickly.
The professional term for making a home more attractive to potential buyers is called staging. There are companies and individuals that you can hire to do it for you, and often if you list with an agent they will either suggest it or do it themselves. International Home Staging, a company that grants certification for home stagers, claims that on average 93 percent of staged homes will in 31 days, but homes that aren't staged usually take at least 161 days to sell.
The cost of a basic home staging estimate, complete with plan of action, runs between $300 to $400. The actual cost of the work plus materials or appliances can run anywhere from $1,500 to $5,000 or more. It all depends on what you are trying to achieve, the condition your home or condo is in and how much you are able or willing to spend. If you are considering a reduction on your asking price, why not take that amount and use it to make improvements? A good deal of the work can most likely be done by the home owner, which will reduce the overall cost. But you may want to hire a professional just to save time and energy.
Most experts agree that you have to make a good first impression to hook a buyer. If the first impression is negative, for whatever reason, it's going to be hard to turn that around no matter what you do. That means that from the front door forward, you need to put your best foot forward and make them feel welcome and able to picture themselves living there comfortably. If you own a home with a yard, make sure it is mowed and looks inviting. Clean up the patio if you haven't and arrange a grill or lounge furniture so that a potential buyer can see the perks of having a place outdoors to relax or entertain. If you are staging a condo or townhome, this isn't as much a concern because lawn care is usually taken care of. And if you are selling a loft, it might pay to look at the http://www.bestchicagocondos.com/lofts/index.html listed on Best Chicago Condos and see what's popular right now.
Next, get rid of clutter. You can't add any more square feet to your home, but you can make it look more spacious by not having magazines or news papers scattered, shoes kicked off by the door or extra furniture packed into a small space. Make every room feel open and inviting. Pay attention to your windows and maximize the amount of natural light. New blinds or treatments are generally inexpensive and can put a whole new face on windows.
Flooring is another area that buyers notice. If carpeting isn't at it's best, you should at least have it cleaned or replace it in the most noticeable areas of the home. Make sure that hardwood is polished and tile isn't dull.
Walls can either pin in a room or open it up, so if the current paint color is dark or suited for only a certain decor, then definitely repaint in more neutral tones, such as beige or sand. These colors are calming and go with most furniture. Potential buyers are seldom sold on condos or homes that they will have to repaint.
Even simple things like door handles, cabinet pulls or plumbing fixtures can add a new look to a home. These are also pretty inexpensive and with the exception of kitchen or bath faucets you can probably install them yourself. Lighting fixtures, even a new shade or cover is another simple improvement that can add to the overall look.
Speaking of the kitchen and bath, those two areas are scrutinized most often by buyers. It goes without saying that you should keep the bath sparkling and adding candles or new towels can transform a bath. Energy efficient appliances in the kitchen are always a big selling point, and worth the expense of upgrading. Even the scent of your home can play a part. Maybe you can't have fresh baked bread in the oven to entice a buyer, but you can at least have a clean fresh scent or use a subtle scented oil, candle or fresh flowers.
Staging shouldn't be used to try to cover up serious flaws or deceive a buyer. But making a great first impression is always a good idea, whether it pertains to you or the home you are trying to sell.
Both Al Zan & Paula Cherrist are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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