To discuss your selling plans, contact a RE/MAX Elite Sales Associate.
To find a RE/MAX Elite Sales Associate, CLICK HERE
As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of
your property. When you take the following steps, you'll help your RE/MAX
Elite Sales Associate sell your home faster, at the best possible price.
The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home
is to enlist a quality home service professional. The right professional
can help you get everything in order - from repainting the kitchen to
providing a thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important
things.
1. Make the Most of that First Impression
A well-manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch
welcome prospects. So does a freshly painted - or at least freshly scrubbed
- front door. If it's autumn, rake the leaves. If it's winter, shovel
the walkways. The fewer obstacles between prospects and the true appeal
of your home, the better.
2. Invest a Few Hours for Future Dividends
Here's your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room,
the bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint
is fading, consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm
and value to your property. If you're worried about time, hire professional
cleaners or painters to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would
rather see how great your home really looks than hear how great it could
look "with a little work."
3. Check Faucets and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty
or worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects
in the dark. Don't let little problems detract from what's right with
your home.
4. Don't Shut Out a Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they
will also stick in a prospect's mind. Don't try to explain away sticky
situations when you can easily plane them away. A little effort on your
part can smooth the way toward a closing.
5. Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller
skates on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs
and low hanging overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous
as possible for uninitiated visitors.
6. Make Room for Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable
living space. They're looking for storage space, too. Make sure your
attic and basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
7. Consider Your Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now's the time
to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
8. Make Your Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or
unsightly caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display
your best towels, mats, and shower curtains.
9. Create Dream Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious
look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains
are a must.
10. Open up in the Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects
can see how bright and cheery your home is.
11. Lighten up at Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and
outside - when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and
warmth, and make prospects feel welcome.
12. Avoid Crowd Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled
with people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves,
they're likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
13. Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your
home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor:
Keep Kitty and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
14. Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction.
When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo
or TV.
15. Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to
view your home with a minimum of distraction.
16. Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings.
If a prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance,
let your experienced RE/MAX Elite Associate handle the situation.
17. Keep a Low Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But RE/MAX Elite Sales Associates
know buyers - what they need and what they want. Your RE/MAX Elite Associate
will have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you
stay in the background.
18. Don't Turn Your Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers
to sell those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest
sale of all.
19. Defer to Experience
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters,
let them speak to an expert - your RE/MAX Elite Sales Associate.
20. Help Your Agent
Your RE/MAX Elite Associate will have an easier time selling your home
if showings are scheduled through his or her office. You'll appreciate
the results!
