| Cindy Burress, REALTOR Briarclif Realty Services Phone: 865-483-7253 Cell: 865-850-4599 Fax: 865-483-7288 EMAIL: realestate.pros@comcast.net 695 Emory Valley Road Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830 |
General Thoughts On Getting Your House Ready To Sell When preparing your home to sell, there are some general thoughts to keep in mind. First, your buyer is placing themselves in the environment you are presenting them when your house is shown. Therefore, begin seeing your home through the eyes of a prospective buyer. Generally, fresh, clean, uncluttered and bright are words that will appeal to a buyer. Items that assist a buyer in thinking of your property as "home" should remain. However, items that so strongly project a sense of "somebody else's home" may make it harder for a buyer to place themselves and their items in your property. For example, if you have 10 family photos on the mantle over the fireplace, might you consider one or 2 with a decorative accent that shows off the mantle handsomely. Consider keeping your windows open allowing the light to flow into the room. Let that light show off floors that have been recently cleaned. If you normally have toys laying around, store them away neatly when your property is shown. Look at the room as a whole. Envision your buyer walking through the space and arrange your furniture to allow traffic to flow easily. Go on a dirt and grime expedition. Are there areas that we become accustomed to living with that could be easily remedied with soap, water and elbow grease? TShow off those lamps and light fixtures in your home by leaving them on when your home is to be shown. Silence is golden, barking dogs are not - find them safe temporary housing so your potential buyer is thinking about your property and not rover. Also, only the softest background music--if any at all. Turn the televisions off. Your buyer is thinking about his breaking back when they contemplate picking up to sticks and stones that you will be leaving them in your front yard. Neatly trimmed shrubs foster a sense of order that you are hoping for in your buyer's first impression as they approach your front door. What better way to say hello than with a few freshly cut flowers in a room or two in the home. Not a must but maybe an edge for you Remove all possible pet stains from carpet and rugs. Find a place outside your home for jewelry, money, firearms and all small valuables that could come across sticky fingers when your home is bing shown. In the foyer If the yard is the book cover, the entry is the preface. Look closely at light fixtures to make sure all bulbs burn and dust is gone and the shine is on. Scent is controversial unless it is foul. If is foul, your buyer is likely to be more focused on the odor than your property. However, a buyer may feel that a pleasing soft scent awaiting them upon entry evokes the hunt for other hidden treasures in your property. Buyers will generally pause a minute or two upon entry. They are soaking up the general feel. Clean that throw rug that first tickles your buyer's toes. Living in the living room Help the buyer begin to "live" in your living or great room by creating a comfortable environment. Every property offers different benefits. For example, if your house has a picture window in the living room that showcases a great view of the mountains, make sure those drapes are open and the windows sparkle. If your have an open plan great for entertaining, arrange your furniture to showcase this openness to promote the feeling of "big" and "lots of room". Arrange the pillows on the sofa thoughtfully. Remove dust from furniture. Clean the window blinds if you have them. Kitchen and eating areas There is a reason for those numbers posted on restaurant inspections right there in the open for us all to see. We are all concerned about issues of cleanliness. Imagine preparing your next meal in a dirty area. Not appealing to you? Consider selling this option to somebody who is about to offer to make their biggest lifetime investment in a property with a dirty kitchen. Expect that cabinets and drawers will be opened by your buyers. Expect that the stove and refrigerator dishwasher and disposal and pantry will be opened by them as well. Help your buyer see your kitchen as a whole by removing magnets and mementos from the refrigerator. Try to free up as much counter space as possible. Clean the kitchen sink before each showing. The floor should be swept and free of debris. Bathrooms Again, shower curtains should be pulled back and expect that all doors and drawers will be opened by your potential buyer. Sinks and bathtubs should be cleaned prior to your potential buyer laying eyes on them. Pair down the household products to the minimum needed for daily use. Again, let your buyer begin to take ownership of the property by removing traces of yourself. Bedrooms Please make the beds before the buyer sees them. Pair down items in the closet to the minimum needed for daily usage. Show your closets to be organized and well kept. Your buyer is mentally arranging their possessions in your closets. Disordered cabinets often looks smaller to your buyer. Turn bedside lamps on before the showing to create a warm glow. Make the bed and arrange pillows. Open the drapes and clean the windows and blinds. Make sure to remove dust from furniture and the overhead light fixtures. Garage or carport Plan for your buyer to expect that parking the car is the intended purpose of the garage. If you have used your garage for added storage, please organize this into to boxes or neat storage containers. |
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| Building A Foundation Of Trust |