Home Selling Tips
1. Just before each showing, you can make your house more inviting by baking a cinnamon cake, warming some fresh ginger cider on the stove, or adding a drop of vanilla on top of illuminated light bulbs. This extra touch is sure to make potential buyers feel welcome.
2. Before welcoming potential buyers, you can make your home appear warmer, brighter and more spacious by installing higher wattage light bulbs throughout. Before each showing, turn on all the lights and open the drapes. The entire house will look even brighter if you apply a fresh coat of light-colored paint.
3. Before each showing, remove personal items and family photos from shelves and walls. Fill in the empty spots with attractive art or decorative pieces. This is important because you want potential buyers to visualize their family living in the house, not yours.
4. An attractive doorway can make a good impression on potential buyers. So before each showing polish the doorknob, doorknocker, and light fixtures; sweep the walkway and steps; make sure the doormat is free of debris. These are small steps to take when you are welcoming the potential new owners of your home.
5. It is important not to let your emotions play a role when setting a price for your home. Buyers will only be concerned with such factors as the home’s size, age and condition. Years of memories and other emotional ties you have to the home will not be important to buyers, therefore they should not be used to determine price.
6. If your home is free of clutter, buyers are likely to find it more appealing. So before you begin showing your home, it may be best to remove excess furniture and accessories. If necessary, rent a storage unit to hold excess until your home is sold.
7. When your home is on the market, it is best to show it when it is still furnished rather than vacant. Without furniture, buyers may have a hard time getting a feel for the layout, which will make it hard for them to imagine what it will look like furnished.
8. Hosting an open house will allow several potential buyers to see your home within a short time period. Usually held on a weekend, an open house gives buyers the freedom to browse your home and determine if it meets their needs and is priced within their budget.
9. To provide a little incentive to buyers, you may want to offer a 12-month home warranty. This may help prospective buyers feel assured that certain mechanical problems within their first year of ownership will be covered. Buyers may find this especially attractive if your home is older.
10. Remember it is your responsibility to inform potential buyers of anything that could affect your home’s value or desirability. Although laws vary from state to state, some require that you reveal everything from a leaky roof to a noisy neighbor on a disclosure form. Be sure to inquire about the disclosure laws in your area.
