- Getting Ready to Sell your Home? -

Here are Some Tips:

You may have seen some of the television shows that coach families on how to prepare their homes for sale. The rules are to make your home as clean, clutter free, airy, and roomy as possible, with structural repairs done, the paint freshened and the house ready to receive a new family.

You want Buyers to see that there is enough closet space for their coats and seasonal items. You want the house to gleam and make people feel welcome. The house should smell good. If there are pets, make sure that their litter boxes are clean and fresh. Pets should not be running free in the house at the time of a showing. Realtors will happily show you scars from cat attacks, or had to postpone a showing because a guard dog was lurching towards the potential Buyers ready for a quick meal. We love our pets, but we need to respect other people's comfort level, safety and allergies.

The first and most important step for a Seller to realize is that his/her “stuff” - however charming, looks like “clutter” to others.

Practical And Expected realities:

Buyers hope that the roof is newer and sound, that the plumbing works, and that the electric is at least 100 amps. They want the basement to be dry or have a working sump pump. They hope the windows have been replaced, and that the furnace has been regularly cleaned and inspected. They want the hot water heater to hold enough water so that family members don't have to draw straws as to which one can bathe per morning. They love it if the basement is dry and has storage spaces.

Besides all of the important facts about the house structure and function, there is also that critical emotional factor that buyers are looking for. Can they see their children playing safely in the yard? Do they picture themselves sipping some wine while staring at a roaring fire in the fireplace in the living room? Is that dining room big enough for gathering the family for a holiday? How far away is the bathroom? (This becomes a more serious issue as we age.) Where is the laundry set up? Is it on the same floor as the bedrooms? If so, you will double the amount of buyers, especially adding those in the plus 50-age bracket.

Exterior:

Is the yard presentable? Does the house have good curb appeal? Are the plantings so close to the house that green mold is growing up the sides of the house?

Can a hanging basket of flowers be added to give a welcome and warmth to an entry?

Steps and walkways should be free of toys, garden tools, branches and any debris. Any railings should be securely attached, and not wobbly. In snowy seasons, great care should be taken to clear the path and make it safe by sand or salt.

Exterior stains, mold and dirt removal. Almost all exterior mold and algae can be removed with a long handled scrub brush, water and Clorox. If you have a wood exterior, a power washing will make a big difference. However, be very careful about power washing an exterior that is aluminum or vinyl sided, as the force of the water can damage the covering.

Decorating:

There are some people who cherish their paintings of clowns and Elvis on Black velvet, and think that their beer bottle collection, which hasn't been dusted since college days, gives that nice lived-in look. Yes, it does. But that doesn't mean anyone else who could afford the house would want to live there. Take a deep breath, and take them down.

Remove clutter. Wash those curtains and have them fluttering in the breeze. Clean and polish the floors, have the carpets cleaned. Clean off the front of the fridge, and table tops. If you have the time to stage an area, keep table items to no more than 5. Make sure the lamps have light bulbs that work. Clean out the fireplace and set it with fresh logs, or candles.

Special Smells: Do you have teenagers? Many of us do. We have to face the fact that their rooms are often their locked-down sanctuaries. They close off their rooms and accumulate things. First, Air out the room. It should not smell of teenager or sneakers. Check under beds for food fossils and remains of other life forms. Take the posters off the walls, and remove scotch tape and Spackle holes. Get your teenager to help freshen the paint, and let them pick out a new color, but not a navy or dark or primary color.

Have a garage sale and tell them they get to keep the cash for anything except the essential furniture from their room. Clear out the closet and put up shoe organizers for equipment and shoes. Keep airing out the room regularly.

After you have done your search and remove mission, you can put your extra but still cherished things in storage for a few months. The garage should be functional, with room for the cars to park, and tools and other items should be organized and not overflowing. The garage door should work.

The amazing thing is that as your remove the clutter and have those garage sales, the house takes on more of your personality. You will enjoy it more. That phrase “Less is More” certainly is true when you enter a room. You may notice the fragrance of a bowl of apples or the newly cutgrass. Look at the fresh walls, immaculate bathroom with clean towels and empty countertops. Open a closet and see how much room you now have for hanging your coat. Look into the linen closet stacked with fresh towels and linens. Step into the living room onto the soft, clean carpet or gleaming hard wood floors, and notice how now you can see the furniture. And look, you notice the style of the room and feel its space. You walk out onto your deck and see a trimmed lawn with spots of bright color from the plantings. Buyers will see a place for their dog to romp, and a place to watch the birds and the new spring tulips. They will want to make it their new home.

With your home organized and clutter free, it will be easy to show and there won't be much to do when your realtor calls with a request for an appointment. And your home will sell!