To get your home sold faster and for more money there are three things you should do:  hire a top notch sales agent, price your home right, and condition your home for sale.  The first two are self explanatory; the third needs some explanation.

Let’s say you’re in the market for a new car.  You and the family jump in the old jalopy and take a drive down to one of the big local car lots.  As you stroll down the many rows of cars, with a salesman on your heels, you come across a possibility—a grey sedan.  But on closer inspection you notice it is not really grey but rather blue covered with a thick layer of dust and dirt.  You also notice one of the tires is flat, the antenna is broken, and the interior is full of candy bar wrappers and empty soda cans.  The salesman points out how roomy the car is, with lots of space for the family.  He suggests you turn the engine over and listen to the purr.  But when you turn the key, the engine grinds and finally dies in a sputter.  Chances are you would keep looking.

In reality, car lot owners go to considerable effort to ensure the cars and trucks on the lot are kept shiny, clean, and operable. That’s because the owners know a clean and shiny car that works will sell faster and for more money than a dirty car that doesn’t work.  What’s amazing is how many homeowners don’t realize the same is true for selling a home.

Imagine yourself as a home buyer taking a first look at your home.  Presuming you are not buying to renovate, what kind of impression would you have if your first vision of the home was one of dullness, dust, dirt, and disrepair.  Chances are you would keep looking, looking for another home.  As they say, you never get a second chance to make a good first impression.

Every day potential buyers view homes with weed infested planters, dull and faded paint, overflowing trash cans, smelly odors, clutter, and littered floors.  Nothing sells a home faster than having dirty dishes stacked in the sink and dirty underwear on the bathroom floor!  Believe it or not, homes are put on the market in just that kind of condition.  Like the cars on a car lot, if you want your home to sell as quickly as possible and for the most money possible, it only makes sense to make it clean and shiny inside and out.

This seems like a very logical and acceptable concept, but you would be surprised at how many homeowners just don’t get it.  Apparently they think, or at least hope, buyers will be able to see through the dirt, clutter, and disorder.  They expect buyers to see the potential in the home.  A little paint, a good cleaning, some organizing, maybe a little freshening of the plant beds, and the buyer will have a great home.  And the Realtor’s reply to the seller should be, if you want the home to sell quickly and for top dollar, do those things before you list.  Make it a home that will attract buyers.  Make it a great home to sell.  Make it a home that will sell itself.

Getting your home in the best condition possible is not that difficult.  It may take a little work.  It will certainly take some knowledge of what needs to be done.  This is where your Realtor can help.  At the time you list your home, your Realtor should inspect the interior and exterior for areas needing improvement.  These are items that if corrected will improve the salability of your home.  He or she should leave you with a written list.

Exterior

For instance, the interior may look fantastic, but it won’t matter much if potential buyers never go inside.  Having curb appeal is when your home looks its absolute best on the outside.  That curb appeal is what entices potential buyers to step through the door.  Without curb appeal buyers generally move on to the next listing.

To get the best curb appeal possible for your home, the exterior needs to look neat, tidy, clean, and fresh.  If the paint is old and dull or the color is weird or dated, put a fresh coat of paint on the walls.  Make sure to use quality paint in a neutral light color with flattering trim.  And if you can’t paint like a professional, hire a professional.  The difference can have a big impact.

Landscaping can have a gigantic impact on making your home more attractive.  Start by feeding and watering the grass.  Strive for that rich green look free of weeds and bare spots.  Bare spots are often caused by bugs.  Have the yard treated if necessary.  If the yard is in really bad shape, consider sodding.  And of course, make sure the yard is kept cut and sidewalks and driveways edged.

If you already have plant beds, make sure they are free of weeds.  Remove old or dying shrubs and replace with new.  Always re-mulch.  When it comes to landscaping, mulching gives the biggest bang for the buck.  If you don’t have plant beds, consider adding some.  Plants and shrubs add character to a home.  But make sure they are trim and neat.  Always avoid the overgrown look.  Trim those bushes.  People want to see your home, not a thicket.

Eliminate clutter.  Pick up and stow yard toys, tools, and extraneous items that should not be left lying around.  Clutter detracts from curb appeal.

Remove items that are rusted or in disrepair such as a swing set and patio furniture.  Repair broken permanent items such as sprinkler heads, gates, and fencing.

Pressure clean pool decks, sidewalks, patios, patio furniture, drive ways, and soffits.  Ensure oil stains in the drive way are dealt with.

If you have a pool, make sure the water is crystal clear.  Brush the sides and keep them free of any algae.  Keep all pool tools and toys neat and orderly.

Remove spider webs from around the doors and windows.  Make sure windows sparkle; replace any broken glass.  Keep trash cans out of sight.

And here’s a big one.  Clean up after your dog—every day!

If you do all of the above your home will have curb appeal.  Old or new, your home will look, on the outside, the best it can possibly look.  Curb appeal will get buyers through the front door and that is why the interior must shine as well.

Interior

Stand back and take a critical look at the interior of your home.  Try to visualize and sense what a discriminating buyer will see, feel, and smell the first time he or she enters the home.  How many items will pop out, items you’ve probably been meaning to get to?  The clutter, dirt, and disorganization we’ll discuss in a moment, but look beyond those.  Look for blemishes you stopped noticing months or years ago.  Look for worn or dirty spots in the carpet, broken or cracked tile, chipped paint, squeaky hinges, burned out lights, leaky faucets, toilets that run constantly, and the myriad other things that should have been fixed long before now.  Anything that detracts from the positive aspects of your home is bad.  Get them fixed.  Take out your tool box, or call your handyman and get them fixed.

Now that everything that should be repaired has been repaired, you’re off to a good start.  But there’s much more to consider.

Odors and aromas are the very first thing people notice upon entering a home for the fist time.  Odors are bad; aromas are good.

Probably the most common odors come from our pets.  Beyond the smell, many people are allergic to dog and cat dander.  For both reasons, it’s important to give your dog, especially a large dog, a bath at least once a week.  Keep him or her smelling fresh.  Wash your pet’s bedding at least once a week.  Clean out the litter box as much as needed everyday.  Vacuum pet hair everyday if needed.  These things are not only good for getting your home sold, they’re good for your pet.

If you have exotic pets—lizards, snakes, spiders, rodents, ferrets, monkeys, albino tigers, etc.—you may want to consider sending them on vacation, maybe to a friend’s house.  Beyond the odor, many people have an aversion to such animals and may not buy your house simply because it was once home to your pet tarantula.

Birds can be animated and colorful, but no one will deny how messy they are, especially large birds.  If you have such a feathered friend, clean the bottom of the cage often.  Vacuum the spent shells and food residue from the floor around the cage.  And ask Polly to reframe from any disparaging remarks about the buyers.

Take the trash out often.  Don’t let trash odors build to the point they are noticeable.  Make sure the garbage disposal is clean, fresh, and free of food items.

In addition to eliminating odors you will want to fragrance the home throughout any time you anticipate buyers.  It’s probably not a good idea to leave candles burning when you’re away, but scented oil sticks work just as well.  You can also try potpourri or air fresheners.

Keep in mind that the kitchen and baths are the most important rooms in the house.  They must be kept squeaky clean.  You should clean and put away all dishes, toasters, blenders, and mixers.  Leave countertops free of clutter and sparkling.  Organize overflowing cabinets and pantries so buyers can see the actual space available.  Shine all metal fixtures so they are free of dirt, grime, and water spots.

In the bath, if the shower curtain or glass is caked with soap and lime deposits, replace curtains and thoroughly clean all glass.  Eliminate all mold and mildew.  There are a number of products that make this job easy.  As for the toilets, clean them.  If a toilet seat is warped, broken, or stained, replace it.

Ensure all windows, tubs, showers, and sinks are sealed and calked   Re-calk any calking that appears old and stained.

All floors must be free of clutter, clothing, toys, and anything that doesn’t belong.  Thoroughly clean linoleum and tile.  Vacuum carpets and wash area rugs.

Make sure all appliances are in good working order, especially the air conditioner and heater.  Keep the temperature in the home comfortable.  You may want to have several months of electric bills handy in case buyers ask about them.  The cost to run a home is a common question.

If you have figurines or artwork that could accidentally be knocked over, move them to a safe place.  You should also secure or move to a safe deposit box valuables such as coin collections, jewelry, cash, art, and prescription medication.  The chances of these items being stolen while the home is being shown by a Realtor are fairly slim, but it does happen.  More importantly, word of such valuables can get around, conceivably to the wrong people.

You will also want to take down any flags, posters, or paintings that could potentially be offensive.  The goal here is to get your home sold, not let everyone know how you stand on a particular issue.

Also, make sure your home is safe to show.  Eliminate any tripping hazards such as extension cords stretched across the floor.  If you’re in the process of moving, make sure stacked boxes do not present a falling hazard.

Conclusion

All of the above may seem like a lot of work and worry.  The amount of work involved in getting your home ready to sell obviously depends on the general condition of your home day to day.  Some homes are routinely kept pretty much in the above condition.  Other homes will need some work.  But keep in mind, the goal is to get your home sold as quickly as possible and for the most money possible.  Ensuring all of the above is done will help accomplish those two goals.

Your Realtor plays an important part in every aspect of the home selling process.  The above is no exception.  His or her experience with selling hundreds of homes is of great value to you.  He or she knows what sells and what doesn’t.  Take advantage of that experience.  Listen to your agent’s recommendations.  You have common goals.  Your agent wants your home to sell as quickly as possible and for the most money.  Work together and it will happen.

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