5 Things to Do Before You Sell
- Get estimates from a reliable repairperson on items that need to be replaced
soon, such as a roof or worn carpeting, for example. In this way, buyers will
have a better sense of how much these needed repairs will affect their costs.
- Have a termite inspection to prove to buyers that the property is not infested.
- Get a pre-sale home inspection so you'll be able to make repairs
before buyers become concerned and cancel a contract.
- Gather together warranties and guarantees on the furnace, appliances, and
other items that will remain with the house.
- Fill out a disclosure form provided by your sales associate. Take the time
to be sure that you don't forget problems, however minor, that might
create liability for you after the sale.
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10 Ways to Make Your House More Desirable
- Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines.
Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing
to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.
- Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
- Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates.
Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a
better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared
for.
- Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors,
smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
- Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter,
especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
- Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such
as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may
seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't
well maintained.
- Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge
the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
- Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
- Clean your gutters.
- Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
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20 Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home
- Make your home more appealing for potential buyers with these quick and easy
tips.
- Trim bushes so they don't block windows and cut down on light.
- Buy a new doormat.
- Put a pot of bright flowers on your porch.
- Put new doorknobs on your doors.
- Put a fresh coating on your driveway.
- Edge the grass around walks and trees.
- Keep your garden tools out of site.
- Be sure kids put away their toys.
- Buy a new mailbox.
- Upgrade the outside lighting.
- Use warm, incandescent light bulbs for a homey feel.
- Polish or replace your house numbers.
- Clean your gutters.
- Put out potpourri or burn scented candles.
- Buy new pillows for the sofa.
- Buy a flowering plant and put it in a window you pass by frequently.
- Make a centerpiece for your table with fruit or artificial flowers.
- Replace heavy curtains with sheer ones that let in more light.
- Buy new towels.
- Put a seasonal wreath on your door.
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7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House
- Hire a cleaning service. A spotlessly clean home is essential; dirt will
turn off a prospect faster than anything.
- Mow your lawn, and be sure toys and yard equipment are put away.
- Serve cookies, coffee, and soft drinks. It creates a welcoming touch. But
be sure the kitchen has been cleaned up; use disposable cups so the sink doesn't
fill up.
- Lock up your valuables, jewelry, and money. Although the real estate salesperson
will be on site during the open house, it's impossible to watch everyone all the time.
- Turn on all the lights. Even in the daytime, incandescent lights add sparkle.
- Send your pets to a neighbor or take them outside. If that's not possible, crate
them or confine them to one room (a basement or bath), and let the salesperson know where
to find them.
- Leave. It's awkward for prospective buyers to look in your closets and express their
opinions of your home with you there.
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5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale
- Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property's realistic
price range.
- Get your house market-ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
- Be flexible about showings. It's often disruptive to have a house ready to show on
the spur of the moment, but the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you'll
find a seller.
- Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you'll find acceptable.
- Don't refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30
days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.
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Moving Tips for Sellers
- Give your forwarding address to the post office, usually two to four weeks ahead of the move.
- Notify your credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, and bank of the change of address.
- Develop a list of friends, relatives, and business colleagues who need to be notified of the move.
- Arrange to have utilities disconnected at your old home and connected at your new one.
- Cancel the newspaper.
- Check insurance coverage for moved items. Usually movers only cover what they pack.
- Clean out appliances and prepare them for moving, if applicable.
- Note the weight of the goods you'll have moved, since long-distance moves are usually billed according to weight.
Watch for movers that use excessive padding to add weight.
- Check with your condo or co-op about restrictions on using the elevator or particular exits.
- Have a “first open” box with the things you'll need most - toilet paper, soap,
trash bags, scissors, hammer, screwdriver, pencils and paper, cups and plates, water, snacks, and toothpaste.
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Plus, if you're moving out of town:
- Get copies of medical and dental records and prescriptions for your family
and your pets.
- Get copies of children's school records for transfer.
- Ask friends for introductions to anyone they know in your new neighborhood.
- Consider special car needs for pets when traveling.
- Let a friend or relative know your route.
- Carry traveler's checks or an ATM card for ready cash until you can open a bank account.
- Empty your safety deposit box.
- Put plants in boxes with holes for air circulation if you're moving in cold weather.
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