Thursday, October 29, 2009

Simple Ways to Get Top Dollar for Your Home When It Is Time to Sell


By Mary DeSimone

If you want to get the best price when you sell your home, there are some simple steps you need to take that will assure top dollar for your home. It will require some effort on your part but the rewards will outweigh the time and effort involved.

Statistics have shown that 80% of homes purchases are bought out of emotion. With that being said, we want to entertain the excitement of the buyer. This can be done with little or no money and just requires some energy on your part.

As a real estate professional, I've always explained to my seller clients the best way to grab the buyer's emotions is to ask yourself, "If I was a buyer and walked in the front door of the home, would it "awe" me"? What could I do to make it more appealing and exciting when I enter the home? We have all heard a couple of sayings that can really pertain to the preparation of selling your home. One of those sayings are, "First impressions count" and the second is does the home have "curb" appeal. "Curb" appeal usually addresses the "outside" of the home but could also apply to the "inside" as well.

What is the first thing a buyer notices when they drive up to your home? That's right, the outside. Is your lawn manicured? Are the trees and shrubs trimmed? Are there cobwebs around your front door or in the entryway? Can you do something to spruce up the front door that is faded by the sun? Yes, that first impression counts. Be attentive to these small and easy fixable items and it will grab the buyer's emotion and want them to see more.

When the buyer opens the front door, what rooms are immediately noticed? Will it "wow" the buyer? Move any large furniture further away from the entry as to not put the main focal point on one thing. You want the buyer to notice an entire room and you want them to feel the comfort of the room.

Personally, I always thought that small furniture and accents had to be placed in small rooms. I was so wrong. However, you don't want items too large that they engulf an entire room. You only need 18" of walking space between two pieces of furniture. Rearrange your furniture if needed to make the room feel warm and spacious.

Probably the most important thing to consider when preparing your home for sale are the kitchen and bathrooms. Clean and uncluttered kitchens and bathrooms are a must. Resale homes are always in completion with new homes so make the buyer feel you keep a clean and tidy home. Just because dirt can be hidden, take the time to self-clean your oven. Over the years I've seen this overlooked and almost every buyer will open the oven door. All that clutter on the countertops is convenient but you want the buyer to see the counter space. Counter space in a kitchen is so important to the "cook" in the home.

Taking these minimal and inexpensive steps in preparing your home for sale will almost guarantee you a higher offer price. on the home when it comes time to sell.

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