As a homeowner, there are several things you can do to help sell your real estate in Washington. After you have completed the usual steps of pricing the home and putting out advertisements, you need to make sure your home makes a good impression on prospective homebuyers. Too many times, homeowners lose out on deals because their house was not in a presentable state when it was shown to buyers.
First impressions are everything. As the popular saying indicates, you will never get a second chance to make one. Since the outside of your home is the first thing buyers will see, it should be made as presentable as possible. The lawn should be neatly manicured. If there is a garden in the front yard, it should be manicured as well. Shrubs should be trimmed. A fresh coat of paint on the outside of the house will make a good impression. Alternatively, you can have the house pressure washed to make it look new.
Once you have cleaned up the outside of the house, then its time to take care of the inside. You should first focus on the rooms that are used most often. This includes the living room, kitchen, and bathrooms. Clean each of these rooms thoroughly. Don't have any excess junk lying around. If there are scuff marks on the walls consider touching these up with paint. Buyers want to see how well your home looks, not how well it could look.
Many people are looking for large storage spaces. Organize your closet, attic and basement, to show just how roomy the space really is. Use this as an opportunity to do the organizing you've been planning to do for so long. Donate unwanted clothes to charity, return borrowed tools, and get rid of unnecessary items to free up some space.
Any homeowner would want to get the maximum value when selling their home. However some people mistakenly pay huge amounts of money and undertake complete repair and renovation jobs in an attempt to make the house more appealing. Consider yourself lucky if you ever do recover that money from the sale of your home.
It's a lot of little things, combined with only a few big ones that make the difference between a house that is so-so and one that is irresistible.
Start with the Exterior
First impressions count and the first thing your potential buyers are going to see is the exterior of the house and the garden. Chances are they may decide to drive past your house if they see an unruly garden and an unpainted house. So make sure your garden is well tended and cared for. Mow the lawn, water the plants and place your pots with flowering plants within plain sight. Make sure the exterior of your house is spotlessly clean and that includes the driveway, front porch, shutters and window screens.
Take pains to ensure your front door and the surrounding area look absolutely clean. Give the door a fresh coat of paint if need be. Your customers will have a lot of time to have a good look at the front door and the surroundings while they wait for you to answer the door bell.
Lead the way in
Giving your interior walls a fresh coat of paint is undoubtedly the best way to increase the market value of your house. Neutral colors such as antique white or off white give your rooms an elegant and sophisticated quality that is unmatched. Get your carpets and drapes professionally cleaned. Replacing old and worn out fixtures with brand new ones is an inexpensive investment that will most likely reap you rich rewards.
And now, those three most important words that can make or break your sale- Clear The Clutter. Now is a good time to throw away items that have been lying around and have never been used. Clean out and organize your closets. The client's wife will most likely want to see what the clothes cupboard looks like.
Its Showtime, folks!
D-day is finally here. Your potential buyers are due to come over and inspect your home later today. Make good use of your morning and put the final touches to make your house look even more appealing. Remember your buyers are looking for a house they can call their own. So go ahead and make your home an inviting place to be in.
Again, first impressions count. Give your potential buyers an impressive first impression and everything else will fall in place. Fill your home with the delicious aroma of baked cookies by actually baking a batch of cookies just before your clients arrive. Nobody, but nobody can resist this reminds-me-of-home aroma. Fresh flowers, strategically placed add color and joy to any room.
Keep all your windows and curtains open to give the house a bright airy look. If it's a late winters evening, switch on all your lights and keep the fireplace going, so your house looks and feels warm and cozy.
Once again- Clear the clutter! You'll be amazed at how much has accumulated since the last time you undertook this exercise. Put away shoes that clutter your doorway. Pickup up strewn clothes and socks and throw those in the laundry basket or better still, hide them in the car for the day. Whatever you do, just do not throw all the picked-up stuff into your closet or any cupboards. Remember the client will most likely want see the interior of all the cupboards and wardrobes.
Spray the carpets, drapes and furniture with an odor-removing spray to erase all traces of cigarette smell and pet-odor. Hang fresh, clean towels in the bathrooms and kitchen. Make sure the bathrooms are spotlessly clean and inviting. Placing a few bric-a-brac in each bathroom gives it a more personal touch.
Now that you've got the house ready, sit back, relax and wait for the door-bell to ring announcing the arrival of your buyers.
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