Everyone has heard about cleaning and removing the unnecessary clutter from a house to prepare it to sell but what else can be done to improve the seller’s chances for a quick sale, especially in the current buyers’ market? How can you remove most of the objections a buyer will have with the house, so all that remains is a favorable impression and a desire to move in? Many people who are selling their home seem to be surprised at the level of detail a prospective buyer will notice. Perhaps it is because they have been looking at it for so long, they can no longer see it the way others can. That is where you, as their agent and advisor, come in. Along with pointing out the things that need to be changed, also offer suggestions of inexpensive ways to improve what is already there. Here are 10 of the less common ways to improve the impression buyers will have of the house. 1. Highlight some of the home’s best features like a bay window with colorful flowers. Remember to use color to attract attention. 2. Add a welcome mat outside the front entry. This is just a small thing but can help set the mood before a buyer even enters the house. 3. Add a few strategically placed mirrors. Good spots for these are in the entryway, the hallways, and the bedrooms. Mirrors always make a room look bigger. 4. Install a few good shelving units in the garage or laundry area. People are never disappointed when they see additional storage space. You can only hope that buyers will be grateful when they see the new shelving in place because for them to benefit from your generosity, they have to purchase the house. 5. Make sure all the closets have been cleaned out. Hang a few extra hangers in each and a bag of cedar chips to make them smell fresh. 6. Make sure every light bulb works in the entire house. Serious buyers will try them all in the hope they can find a few not working to adjust their offer down. 7. Make sure the doorbell is working, the glass in the door is clean, the screen is new, and any chipped or cracked paint that can be seen while standing at the front door is redone. This is the first impression a buyer will have of the house and you want it to be a good one. 8. Strategically place lighting in different areas of the house. You might want to place lights under the kitchen cabinets, inside a glass display case, or anywhere you want to highlight a special feature. Remember, color attracts, lighting emphasizes. 9. Do not make the mistake of thinking just because something is not staying with the house it will not affect the potential buyers decision to make an offer; a fish tank that is less than perfectly spotless, uneven pictures on the wall, and scratched up furniture scream neglect to buyers who are looking for such clues. 10. Finally, remove all overtly political and religious items from view. These are the two topics people feel most passionate about. No matter how fervently you believe, and no matter how inoffensive you think your views are, most of the people who come through the door will disagree with you. Aldar Nagy is the author of several informational type websites. These include The Real Estate Marketing Blogger, which offers free marketing ideas and daily tips to agents to help you list more sellers, find more buyers, and increase your earnings through better customer service. Real Estate Marketing Blogger can be found at: http://www.realestatemarketingblogger.com Tags: house selling tips, prepare a house to sell, real estate, staging Related PostsPost a comment
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