Jan's Gems!

So you've decided to sell your home. Great, the housing market is alive! Now.... roll up your sleeves! Truly, now more than ever thanks to HGTV, the market is in a "beauty contest" besides the normal price war. This has always been the case in my 21 years, but when the "going gets tough", the sellers with the most desire to maximize either their price or timing on the market, will so some sprucing up.

1. Make the most of your First Impression. A well mainicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter-free porch welcome your prospects. So does a freshly pained or at least a clean front door. If it's autumn, rake the leaves; if it's winter, shovel the walk ways and please use salt. Make it easy for the co-broker to access your property. While you're looking outside, clean the gutters of debris! I can't tell you how many times, my buyers made comments on the forest growing out of the gutters.

2. Wash the siding and clean the windows inside and outside. Try a newspaper to dry the windows--I found it makes it "streak free".

3. Check your faucets and light bulbs. Leaky faucets mean lack of maintenance. Lights that don't turn on? Instead of the light bulbs, the buyers feel it's a switch or electrical problem.

4. Think safety for your prospects and guests! Remove items on the stairs, festooned extensions cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging lights (place a table under these.)

5. De-clutter and re-arrange the furniture. Remove the spare chair or table if you don't use it and rearrange the sofa and chair to give the most of the floor space to see. Pack up those knicknacks and other non-vital decorations. Open up the bookcase shelves to 50% filled. A decorator friend told me that additional space could be for that cute knicknacks that ties in the decor. Another friend suggester consider painting the back of the shelves a slightly lighter shade of the same color. According to her, it ties the room together and opens the bookcase.

6. De-clutter the closets and pantry. Highlight the storage space, don't clog it. Buyers aren't being nosey, but seeing their storage possibilities.

7. Open up in the Daytime! Let the sun shine in. Light expands a room. In the evening turn on the lights because it's welcoming. Consider timers.

8. Make your bathrooms sparkle! Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. For added allure, display your best towels, mats and a nice clean shower curtain.

9. Watch your Pets. Dogs and cats are great companions, however not when your showing your home. Pets have a talent for getting underfoot, or running out the door. So do the unknowing guest a favor, keep Kitty or Spot outside, caged or at least out of the way. Smells are a problem, also. The litter box has to be clean, the dog bed washed. Please don't mask with the plug ins everywhere, it just doesn't smell clean.

10. Think Volume with Music. Rock and roll will never die, but blasting could kill a sale. Turn down the volume on the stereo or TV. 

11. Keep a low profile and please don't apologize! The co-broke knows her buyers and what's important to them, let the broker try to sell those features to the buyers. Every home has a short coming! Please do not highlight it...let the buyer decide and see.

12. Don't turn your home into a Second-Hand Store When prospect come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell the furnishings you no longer need and don't want to move. A discreet note near the highlight sheet makes some sense.

13. A carpet credit? New Carpet will help sell your home, not a carpet credit. Again, first impressions are important. If you have hardwood floors under the worn carpet, consider exposing the hardwood for the buyers to see.

14. An empty room? A end table and lamp would be nice with a silk arrangement in the corner or how about a picture in the corner for a focal point?