How to Make a Buyer Fall in Love with Your Home

If you are thinking of selling your home, there are a number of things you can do to improve the "showability" of your home. But first, let's look at your home through the eyes of the buyer.

Inside:

1) Open the window coverings and let the sun shine in. Window coverings should be cleaned so that they are not dusty. Have your windows professionally cleaned ? you won't believe the difference!

2) Turn on all lights - day or night. Clean all light bulbs, light fixtures and chandeliers. Wherever practical, install higher wattage light bulbs to further brighten your home.

3) Create the illusion of spaciousness, remove all clutter from each room to visually enlarge them (imagine a builder's model home). Improve traffic flow and create a feeling of spaciousness by removing unnecessary furniture, knick-knacks, hobby items, children's items, etc. Organize your closets and cabinets, remove unnecessary items and put them in storage. Rent a storage area if needed, or pack it in the garage. You're going to move anyway -- start now!

4) Light your fireplace during the winter.

5) Keep your home dusted and vacuumed.

6) Have a family "game plan" to get the home in show condition quickly ? everyone should have an assigned task.

7) Remove all smoke odors, pet odors, and odors resulting from hobbies. When possible, air out your home before the showing. Lightly spray room freshener so that it has a chance to diffuse before the buyer arrives.

8) Make sure that beds are made.

9) Bathrooms should be kept clean, toilet lids down, no hair in the sink. Do not leave dirty towels out; wipe down the shower areas after each use. Repair or replace broken tiles on walls, floors or in showers/tubs. Recaulk if the caulking is chipped and/or stained. Put out fresh towels and decorative soap for showings.

10) Fix dripping faucets, remove rust stains from basins.

11) The kitchen should be kept clean. Remove all grease from range hoods, ovens, stovetops, walls, etc. Expand your counter space by removing small appliances ? everything except those items used on a daily basis ? remember: picture a builder's model home.

12) Shampoo all carpets and vacuum as necessary. If the carpet does not clean up well, ask your agent if you should replace it.

13) First impressions: Does the doorbell work? Invest in a new doormat. Make sure the front door, screen door, etc. open easily and are visually appealing. If necessary, paint all entrance doors.

14) Create the feeling of a spacious entry area by using decorating accents, mirrors, rugs, etc. and by removing all unnecessary clutter.

15) Remove any excess extension cords and exposed wires.

16) Clean and shine all accessories (door knobs, knockers, lamps, mail boxes, address numbers, etc.)

17) Paint inside walls with a neutral colored paint. Usually, all walls should be painted, not just washed. This will brighten the home and make it look bigger and cleaner. Depersonalize teenager's rooms and decorate in a more neutral manner. Remove posters and adhesive from walls and doors and putty any holes resulting from nails or other mishaps. An investment in painting your home can make a big difference. Where necessary, repair or replace doors, closet doors, and/or windows and screens so that they open with ease.

Outside:

Remove dying plants or keep them out of sight. Keep the yard mowed, raked, weeded, fertilized and watered. Trees and shrubs should be pruned and trimmed. Use plants and flowers on porches and front walk way ? create curb appeal! Hoses and garden equipment should be kept neatly out of sight. Remove all toys, bicycles, tools, unattractive patio furniture, trash, etc., from the yard. Outdoor furniture should be kept clean.

Porches, steps, verandas, balconies, patios and other extensions of the house should be kept uncluttered, swept and in good condition. Keep trashcans deodorized, covered and out of sight. Highlight your pool area, water garden, etc. with lighting, benches, planters, flowering plants, etc. Create an outside living/dining area with furniture and plants.

Don'ts:

Don't volunteer information
Don't answer nosey questions
Don't let strangers in "off the street"

Do:

Enlist the service of a professional Realtor to market your home in trade magazines, newspapers, call capture 24 hour hotline, Internet sites, Virtual Tour, etc. Make your home look like a model even if isn't - contact a Realtor that provides complimentary home staging as part of their bundle of services.

Phyllis Harb, a California native is a Realtor/Marketing Specialist at RE/Max Tri City in La Canada, California. RE/MAX Tri-City offers additionally offices in Glendale, La Crescenta, Los Feliz and Pasadena. Harb has been assisting local home sellers and buyers since 1989 and offers over 10 years experience in real estate lending. Phyllis may be contacted at 818 790-7325.

---

How To Spot A Good Buy

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, particularly when... Read More

How To Go About Selling Your Home On Your Own

In days of booming real estate, you would think that... Read More

Homes For Sell By Owner ? FSBOs and Buyer Brokers

You're selling your home as a FSBO (for sale by... Read More

Home Not Selling In Todays Hot Market? Tips and Ideas to Help You Sell

So, your selling your home. Prepare yourself both physically and... Read More

Is 100% Annual Return On Investments Possible With Low Risk Land Investments?

In last week's article, we discussed how substantial profits could... Read More

Tax Free Exchanges: Watch out for the New Residence Rules

On October 22, 2004, President Bush signed tax legislation that... Read More

The Cat in the Attic

Strange and unexpected things happen during home inspections. Seldom are... Read More

How to Make Money in Real Estate Without Doing the Scrunch Work

If you don't have the time to invest working on... Read More

Good Tenants - Learn Twelve Ways Landlords Keep Them

Happy, Long-term Good Tenants Paying On Time How to Create... Read More

The Benefits of Fractional Ownership in Private Residence Clubs

A New Way to Own a Vacation Home - For... Read More

4 Dangers In Flipping Real Estate

If you have recently purchased some real estate for investment... Read More

Buying a Home ? Dealing With Lender Letters

Most people who set out to buy a home, be... Read More

How to Get the Best Price for Your House

The best price to sell your home is always determined... Read More

Four Reasons To Offer Seller Financing

An example of seller financing: Years ago I bought a... Read More

Purchase Your First Home with Confidence

If you are making the transition from renter to homeowner,... Read More

Are You Profiting From O.P.P.?

Are you profiting from O.P.P.? If not, why not? We... Read More

18 Easy Steps to Buy a Bargain House

What is a "distressed" property? What is "bargain" real estate?A... Read More

Selling Your Home: 5 Deal Killers That Are Lurking In Older Homes

You've listed your home for sale, you have a Buyer... Read More

Negotiating the Real Estate Contract

Negotiation is the process of communication back and forth in... Read More

Dont Overpay for a House, Even in Todays Market

If there's one thing American investors love, it's an over-inflated... Read More

Real Estate Value: Knowing yours is Key to Mortgage Success

The value of the real estate you own, whether it... Read More

Getting Raw Land, Not a Raw Deal!

There is more to buying raw land than meets the... Read More

Landlording And Other Aggravations

Here's the gripping story...You are the landlord of a small... Read More

How Do I Implement The Lease Purchase Plan?

Well, as we have discussed in previous newsletters first you... Read More

The Most Sensible Investment Decision Youll Ever Make

So much advice is bandied about on the internet and... Read More

How Much is that House in the Window?

With the recent release from the UK's biggest mortgage lender,... Read More

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble?

We are selling our house. We have lived here for... Read More

The UK has Gone Property TV Show Crazy!

The UK has gone property TV crazy. There are now... Read More

Choosing a Realtor

Purchasing a property, either as an investor or as a... Read More

Termite and Moisture Damage Not Reported

I have done so many appraisals where I saw obvious... Read More

Seven Tips in Choosing Maui Income Properties

Aloha! If you are interested in choosing a Maui income... Read More

Stopping Home Foreclosure with Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Will Stop Your Sale - At Least For Now... Read More

Join the Bulgarian Property Boom With Confidence

An Irish property investor in Sydney, Australia has created an... Read More