Regardless of the reason for wanting to sell your home, you wouldn?t be human if you did not want to get the best possible price for it. Experience has taught me that homes in good, clean condition sell faster and for more money than homes that need repairs and a good cleaning. Let me share with you some of the items that prospective buyers notice and take into consideration when shopping for a new home.
First Impressions are so important to prospective buyers that I can hardly overstate the need for good curb appeal for your home. Landscaping that needs weeding or pruning may remind prospective buyers what a tedious job gardening can be. At the very least, prospects are deducting the costs of probable landscaping from any offer they may make on your home. Does your home need paint? Sometimes just paining the trim will make a world of difference. Is the driveway crumbling? Are there cracks in walkways? These are warning signs for prospective buyers. Is the yard full of clutter? Prospects interpret clutter inside or outside of the house as cramped conditions?not enough storage. You know what to do.
Let?s move inside. It may sound contradictory but you have another chance to make a good First Impression the moment prospective buyers walk through your front door. Does your house smell clean and fresh or have pet odors permeated the carpeting and drapes? The following is a list of major considerations that prospective buyers look for in a home:
Cleanliness?Make your kitchen and bathrooms gleam. Shampoo carpet and wipe handprints off the walls. There?s nothing like a good coat of fresh paint to make a house sparkle.
Clutter?Prospective buyers will look in your closets, cupboards and inside your oven. If every spare space is crammed, buyers will think there is not enough storage space in your house. Take a look at the furniture in your rooms. If you have so much furniture there is little room for moving about, consider storing some items until after you sell.
Repairs?Buyers will flush toilets, turn on faucets, check areas around bathtubs and showers for signs of disrepair or leaks.
Want More Details on Preparations for Selling Your Home? Often times the best place to start is with a professional Comparative Marketing Analysis (CMA) that will give you a picture of high, medium and low pricing realities. This valuable information may help you decide whether or not to invest in necessary home repairs before listing or advertising your home. I provide this service at no charge for homeowners who are thinking about selling their home. There?s no obligation. Just call me or send me an E-mail message if you would like a CMA for your home.
- NUMBER1EXPERT™ 
