Positioning Your House to Sell – Episode #8
Richard and Evan give you some tips that will help your home be better positioned to sell. Based on a Proctor and Gamble survey, they discuss actions you can take on the outside and inside of the house that will give you the biggest benefit for the smallest amount of money. The outside is important for drive up appeal, but the inside is where you can really sell your house to prospective buyers. For more info on the selling process click here.
Read MoreGet that house ready to sell
A little re-arranging here, some tidying there … little touches can make a big difference.
Here is a little quiz to help you with the staging your home:
1. True or False? The goal of home staging is to make the home seem lived in and comfortable.
2. Which of the following is considered home staging?
a) cutting the grass
b) painting the trim
c) removing oversize furniture
d) all of the above
3. When is the best time for sellers to start packing for a move?
a) after they receive a credible offer
b) before they list the house
4. Which of these types of paint colors make a room look biggest?
a) bright
b) neutral
c) dark
5. Which of the following is considered a distraction when staging a home and should be removed?
a) pet odor
b) beautiful artwork
c) peeling paint
d) all of the above
6. True or False? It’s a good idea to get rid of clutter in a home by putting it in boxes and storing the boxes and extra furniture in the garage.
7. Which of the following are good staging strategies?
a) put higher-wattage bulbs in kitchens, closets, bathrooms, and utility rooms
b) clean windows and screens
c) paint the front door
d) hang family photos on the wall
8. True or False? One staging tip is to use a room in an unexpected way – turning a dining room into and office, for example.
ANSWERS:
1. False. The goal of home staging is to emphasize a listing’s best features, deemphasize or fix its shortcomings, and make it as appealing as possible to the widest range of prospective buyers.
2. d. Anything that increases the appeal of a seller’s home is a form of home staging.
3. b. Packing early adds space and makes the home more attractive for buyers. Plus, it makes it easier for sellers to pack the balance of their belongings once the home closes.
4. b.
5. d. Some distractions – pet odor for example – are negative. But there are positive distractions as well. Anything that takes the focus off the house and puts it on the belongings is considered a distraction.
6. False. It’s better to store the boxes and furniture off site, so the garage does not look cluttered.
7. a, b, and c. Family photos and other personal items make it harder for buyers to envision themselves living there.
8. False.
Source: Texas Realtor Magazine – July 2006
Read MoreShape up for showings
When you prepare to put your home on the market, remember this rule of thumb: If what the buyer can see looks well cared for, he or she will generally assume what they can’t see has also been cared for well.
Making that happen is a simple matter of three steps:
- Deciding how much to spend.
- Getting the most out of the exterior of the home.
- Getting the most out of the interior of the home.
If you’re trying to decide how much to spend to get the house ready, don’t overdo it. Making a few minor improvements, such as a coat of paint or a new light fixture, is better than making a major revision, such as remodeling the bathrooms. If you hire a real estate agent, seek advice regarding specific improvements.
A few areas to consider when working on the exterior of the home:
- Keep the lawn edged, cut and watered regularly.
- Trim hedges, weed lawns and flowerbeds and prune trees regularly.
- Check the foundation, steps, walkways, walls and patios for cracks and crumbling.
- Inspect doors and windows for peeling paint.
- Clean and align gutters.
- Inspect and clean the chimney.
- Repair and replace loose or damaged roof shingles.
- If the home is on the market during the winter, keep sidewalks cleared of snow and ice.
- During the spring and summer, consider adding several appealing potted plans, preferably near the front entrance.
- Keep the garage door closed.
- Apply a fresh coat of paint to the front door.
Likewise, there are a number of areas you can tackle to help the appeal of the interior of your home. A few tips:
- Give every room in the house a thorough cleaning and remove all clutter. This will make the house seem larger and brighter.
- Hire a professional cleaning service once every two or three weeks while the home is on the market.
- Remove less frequently used items from kitchen counters, cabinets, closets and the attic.
- If required, repaint walls a neutral color such as off-white or beige. Also consider replacing worn carpet or linoleum with a neutral color.
- Check for cracks, leaks or signs of dampness in the attic and basement.
- Replace broken or cracked windowpanes.
- Inspect and replace, if necessary, heating, cooling, plumbing and alarm systems.
- Replace dripping faucets and showerheads.
- One thing to always try to remember is to look at the home from the buyer’s point of view. Remain objective and be honest with yourself.
Tips to make your home more appealing to prospective buyers viewing your home:
- Keep countertops cleared.
- Replace all burned-out light bulbs.
- Open all drapes and window blinds.
- Put pets in cages or take them to a neighbor.
- Make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink.
- Make sure there’s no laundry in the washer/dryer.
- Clean or replace dirt or worn carpets.
- Put on soft music.
- Burn wood in the fireplace on cold days; otherwise, the fireplace should be clean.
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