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TIPS FOR SELLING
YOUR HOME YOURSELF |
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Discuss: If you have a
partner, discuss your goals and plans for
selling this property. Sometimes we forget this
important step and end up working in different
directions.
Evaluate: There are several ways to tackle
this step. We suggest taking a videocamera and
videotaping your own home. Start at the curb,
walk through the house, and walk the yard. Don’t
forget to open closets, drawers, basements, etc.
just like your potential buyers will. Now take
the time to watch the videotape as if you are
the buyer. We like to pretend that we are
walking into a hotel room or resort rental. How
does your home look? Everytime you see something
that looks like it doesn’t belong, stop the
video and write it down. Make sure to write down
something about those personal photos everywhere
and that treasured art stuck on the
refrigerator!
Repair: Now is the time to fix all of those
small (and large)items that you’ve been meaning
to get to. Make a “to do” list. Hire someone to
do the things that you cannot do. It’s not a bad
idea to get a home inspection done now. That way
you can avoid surprises when your buyer orders
an inspection. Everything needs to work
perfectly as designed.
Declutter: This step also requires that you
pretend that you’re staying in a hotel. What do
you absolutely have to keep close by so that you
can get dressed and function? Everything else
needs to be stored away. It’s a good idea to
rent a storage space if you don't have a very
large attic. If you use your own attic, remember
that your storage is going to have to be NEAT!
When you’re done, you should have only the
essentials left in your home.
Depersonalize: Your goal here is to make your
home feel inviting for SOMEONE ELSE to live in.
Would you want to live in a house where someone
else’s family photos are on the wall? Would you
want to live in a house with a drum set if you
didn’t play the drums? Again, pretend that you
are turning your house into a beautiful hotel
room. Carefully pack away all of your
personalized items.
Clean: This isn't the kind of cleaning you do
for an hour on a Saturday afternoon. This is the
kind of cleaning that they do in the military
from sun up to sun down! Your house needs to be
spotless. You need to scrub baseboards, clean
out cabinets, and wash windows. Clean, clean,
clean… never too clean! Don’t forget outdoors.
Your gardens, walkways, doorsteps, and garages
need to be as clean and neat as your house.
Stage®: Staging® is like designing a set for a
play or a movie. You need to look at each area
and room and try to imagine what feeling it will
evoke for a buyer. Do they want to curl up on
that chaise and pull that soft throw over them
and read a good book? Do they want to sip coffee
at the café table nestled among the fresh blooms
on the terrace? Your home should feel warm and
inviting like a beautiful spa or resort. Take a
deep breath… what does your home smell like?
Plug in scented oil air fresheners in the
kitchen with the cinnamon or vanilla to evoke
visions of fresh baked goods from the oven.
Show: Make sure to remove all pets for
showings. Make sure shades are open, lights are
on, and soft music is playing during showings.
Have a nice color brochure of your home for
buyers to take away with them. Good luck!
Before you know it, you’ll be sitting at the
closing table! |
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