
Selling Your Home
everything seems right with your home, something
happens and you have to sell your dwelling. No matter
what your reasons are for selling, remember that now
is no time to dawdle, the process of preparing a home
for sale can be a month or more. So, here’s how to start:
since he and his family will be living in it so take a fresh
look at your dwelling. Hop in your car and drive around the
block, and then scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer
will see it for the first time. First, consider that’s called
“street appeal,” does it need washing or painting?
Does the driveway need repair work? Is the landscaping in
good shape? Remember, be very critical, your buyer will be.
Next, pull into the driveway and take a good, hard look. Is
the yard neat and trimmed? What about the view from the
front yard? Then, walk inside and size up the interior as
though seeing it for the first time. Take a tour and imagine
what your real estate agent might say about each room, look
into the cabinets, open doors, check out the bathroom.
Then, make a mental note of the things that might put off
potential buyers, along with another list of the things that
first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home’s
become a great place for you, but a new buyer will see things
that you don’t.
2. Clean Out the Clutter Before You Start to Sell
every area – closets, attic storage, kitchen cabinets, drawers,
bath vanities, and shelves – everywhere. Remember, this is
no time to be sentimental. If you don’t use it, lose it.
Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of
us drag a lot more things through life than we really need.
Also, don’t forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid
of clutter – most of us put too much in too little space, which
makes a buying prospect, think your home is too small.
Then, have a great moving sale with all the stuff you’ve
collected and use the proceeds for paint or whatever other
materials you need for repair projects. If you just can’t
bear to part with some possessions, store them in the attic or
some other place that’s out of sight to a potential buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell – Clean, Clean, Clean
Have the carpets professionally cleaned. strip and polish the
floors, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff up
the ceiling fans and kitchen appliances in short, clean
everything.
Don’t forget the exterior, paint or power-wash everything
that needs the work. Remember, this is a ceiling-to-floor,
roof-to-foundation clean-up project.
4. Get More for Your Home: Repairs Pay Off
the next project is making all the repairs necessary to
attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the
screens, spruce up the porch framing, and make your entry
area really shine. Don’t forget to water the lawn and
landscape beds, and take the time to trim, mow, edge and
get rid of sick or dying plants. Inside, fix the grout in
the bathrooms and on tile floors, adjust any doors that
need it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover any stains,
and be sure to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do
what your home needs before the first buyer appears at your
door.
Also, it’s a good idea to get all this done before getting
the real estate broker to make the first listing a good
agent will advise you on what needs to be done. Also, if
you have friends willing to be brutally honest about what
your home needs to sell, invite them to assess the fix-up
needs.
There is, however, an alternative to the sweat equity you
get from a total fix-up — but it carries a price. An
“as-is” sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a buyer
will assess about twice the price you would have paid for
the repairs. Then, the buyer will deduct that amount from
your asking price before making an offer.
5. Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It
whipped your property into shape, it’s time to attract a
buyer.
Regardless of who markets your home, you or a broker, there
are other, small things you must do to attract buyers. For
example, even if it’s bright daylight, open the blinds and
turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make
the home appear roomier. Be sure to remove all your kids
and pets — they’re cute, but a prospect wants to see your
home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure your
pets’ litter pans is clean so the home smells clean and fresh,
not like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure
your home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with
as little notice as possible. That means less than an hour,
or even five minutes, if possible.
6. Get a Sense of the Market
to check out the competition: homes with similar prices
and in similar neighborhoods. Remember, you don’t have to
go out and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful
new model in the new development what you want is the feel
of that new model — clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember, after location, the most important item to a
buyer is a well maintained home. Many flaws can be
overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot
of trouble and expense.
All information being provided is for consumer’s personal, non-commercial
use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective
properties consumers may be interested in purchasing.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Selling Your Home
Sometimes, life just hands us the inevitable: just when everything seems right with your home, something happens and you have to sell your dwelling. No matter what
your reasons are for selling, remember that now is no time to dawdle, the process of preparing a home for sale can be a month or more. So, here’s how to start:
so take a fresh look at your dwelling. Hop in your car and drive around the block, and then
scrutinize your home as a prospective buyer will see it for the first time. First, consider that’s
called “curb appeal,” does it need washing or painting? Does the driveway need repair work?
Is the landscaping in good shape? Remember, be very critical, your buyer will be.
Next, pull into the driveway and take a good, hard look. Is the yard neat and trimmed? What about
the view from the front yard? Then, walk inside and size up the interior as though seeing it for the
first time. Take a tour and imagine what your real estate agent might say about each room,
look into the cabinets, open doors, check out the bathroom.
Then, make a mental note of the things that might put off potential buyers, along with another list of
the things that first attracted you to the dwelling. Remember, the home’s become a great place for
you, but a new buyer will see things that you don’t.
2. Clean Out the Clutter Before You Start to Sell
kitchen cabinets, drawers, bath vanities, and shelves – everywhere. Remember, this is no time to be
sentimental. If you don’t use it, lose it. Potential buyers are seriously put off by clutter, and most of
us drag a lot more things through life than we really need.
Also, don’t forget the furniture and fixtures when getting rid of clutter – most of us put too much in
too little space, which makes a buying prospect, think your home is too small.
Then, have a great moving sale with all the stuff you’ve collected and use the proceeds for paint or
whatever other materials you need for repair projects. If you just can’t bear to part with some
possessions, store them in the attic or some other place that’s out of sight to a potential buyer.
3. To Sell, Sell, Sell – Clean, Clean, Clean
strip and polish the floors, wash the windows and window coverings, and spiff up the ceiling fans and
kitchen appliances in short, clean everything.
Don’t forget the exterior, paint or power-wash everything that needs the work. Remember, this is a
ceiling-to-floor, roof-to-foundation clean-up project.
necessary to attract a buyer.
So, patch up the roof, touch up all the paint, repair the screens, spruce up the porch framing, and
make your entry area really shine. Don’t forget to water the lawn and landscape beds, and take the
time to trim, mow, edge and get rid of sick or dying plants. Inside, fix the grout in the bathrooms
and on tile floors, adjust any doors that need it, fix any scratches on the walls, cover any stains, and
be sure to fix any plumbing problems. Remember, do what your home needs before the first buyer
appears at your door.
Also, it’s a good idea to get all this done before getting the real estate broker to make the first listing
a good agent will advise you on what needs to be done. Also, if you have friends willing to be brutally
honest about what your home needs to sell, invite them to assess the fix-up needs.
There is, however, an alternative to the sweat equity you get from a total fix-up — but it carries a
price. An “as-is” sale keeps you from doing all this work, but a buyer will assess about twice the
price you would have paid for the repairs. Then, the buyer will deduct that amount from your asking
price before making an offer.
5. Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It
time to attact a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your home, you or a broker, there are other, small things you must
do to attract buyers. For example, even if it’s bright daylight, open the blinds and turn on the
lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make the home appear roomier. Be sure to remove all
your kids and pets — they’re cute, but a prospect wants to see your home, not your pride and
joy. In addition, make sure your pet’s litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not
like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your home is available to be seen by a
prospective buyer with as little notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five
minutes, if possible.
6. Get a Sense of the Market
homes with similar prices and in similar neighborhoods. Remember, you don’t have to go out
and buy new furniture just to look like that beautiful new model in the new development
what you want is the feel of that new model — clean, uncluttered, and fresh.
Remember, after location, the most important item to a buyer is a well maintained home. Many
flaws can be overlooked if the buyer knows he can move in without a lot of trouble and expense.
All information being provided is for consumer’s personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective
properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.