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Contact Penny Pearson

Maximize your home's sales potential.

You may not be able to change your home's location or it's floor plan, but you can do a lot to improve it's appearance . . . and you should. The look and "feel" of your home generates a greater emotional response than any other factor. You may price your home to sell, but a prospective buyer reacts to what they see, hear, feel and smell.

Remember you're not just competing with other people's homes - you're going up against brand-new homes as well. Purchasing a home is a very emotional experience and buyers will naturally have a critical eye when considering your home as a big part of their future. 

Getting Your House Prepared to Show and Sell:

1. Prepare Yourself Emotionally To Sell Your House.
   • Brace yourself to view your house as an item for sale and not your home.
   • Make the mental decision to "let go" of your attachment to your home
     while focusing on the fact that soon this house will no longer be yours.
   • Picture yourself handing over the keys to the new owners. 
   • Don't look backwards -- look toward the future.
2. De-Personalize.
   Pack up those personal photographs and family mementos. Buyers want to be able to visualize themselves living in your home. You want buyers to be able to imagine their own photos on the walls, and they can't do that if yours are there! 
3. Organize and De-Clutter!
   People collect an amazing quantity of stuff! Think of this process as a jump-start on the packing and organizing which you will eventually need to do for the big move.
   • If you don't need it, why not donate it or throw it away?
   • Remove almost all of your books from bookcases.
   • Pack up those knickknacks and dust collectors.
   • Clean off everything on kitchen counters.
4. Rent a Storage Unit.
   Almost every home shows better with less furniture. Remove extra leaves from your dining room table to make the room appear larger. Leave just enough furniture in each room to showcase the room's purpose and plenty of room to move around. 
5. Rearrange Bedroom Closets and Kitchen Cabinets.
   Buyers love to snoop and will open closet and cabinet doors. When a buyer sees everything organized and tidy she will probably think that you take good care of the rest of the house as well. Make your closets & cabinets look bigger with less stuff.
   • Organize cupboards. Neatly stack dishes, cups, bowls, etc..
   • Store or toss extra plastic ware, pots, pans, cups and dishes. 
   • Organize your closets. Hang shirts together, pants together, etc
   • Line up shoes and/or store those that you don't need for now.
6. Spiff up And Make Minor Repairs.
   • Replace cracked floor or counter tiles.
   • Patch holes in walls.
   • Fix leaky faucets.
   • Fix doors that don't close properly and kitchen drawers that stick.
   • Consider painting your walls neutral colors. 
7. Clean Until The House Sparkles!
   Cleanliness can have a major impact on your sale, especially when it comes to kitchens and bathrooms.
   • Wash windows inside and out.
   • Rent a pressure washer and spray down sidewalks and exterior.
   • Front doors give the first impression. Brighten up with new paint or refinish.
   • Re-caulk tubs, showers and sinks.
   • Polish chrome faucets and mirrors.
   • Dust furniture, ceiling fan blades and light fixtures.
   • Clean and air out any musty smelling areas. Odors are a no-no.
8. Scrutinize Your Hard Work Objectively.
   • Go outside and stand in front of your house. Does the house welcome you?
   • Examine carefully how furniture is arranged with an eye toward making the room look feel more spacious and useable.
   • Does it look like nobody lives in this house? You're almost finished.
9. Check Curb Appeal.
   If a buyer won't get out of her agent's car because she doesn't like the exterior of your home, you'll never get her inside.
   • Clean up outdoor clutter of tools, toys and other distractions.
   • Keep the lawn mowed. Edging and weeding of flowerbeds is a big plus.
   • Paint faded or peeling window trim.
   • Plant flowers or group flower pots together.
   • Trim your hedges and bushes.
   • Make sure visitors can clearly read your house number.
10. Think like a buyer
    If this all sounds like a lot of work, it is. But it's to be expected when you're selling anything of such great value. And you'll thank yourself for all the expense and hard work when the outcome works to your satisfaction.