EASY-TO-FOLLOW STEPS

1. Make a Good First Impression

A well maintained and clutter free lawn gives a welcoming appeal to prospective buyers. If it is a re-sale property freshly painted walls can make a tremendous difference. Painted walls give a new home appeal and shows you take care of your home. If its winter time ensure all of your walkways are shoveled.

2. Invest a Few Hours in Touching Up

Making sure the living room, bathroom and kitchen are clean will add more value to a prospective buyer. If there are some scuff marks on the floor or walls, do a quick touch up. Prospects would rather see how great a home looks than think about how it could look with a little work.

3. Lighting and Faucets

It’s important to check all faucets for drips. Dripping water or slow drainage show possible plumbing problems and can discolor sinks. Another commonly missed area is lighting. Check that all lighting fixtures are working properly and that have good bulbs. Leaving a prospective buyer in the dark could kill a sale.

4. Doors, Doors, Doors

If your closet doors, entrance doors, or cabinet doors squeak or stick, the sound will stick in a prospect’s mind as well. A small amount of effort can make the path to closing a sale far smoother.

5. Safety First

Make your home as safe as possible for visitors. Items such as slippery throw rugs, low hanging overhead lighting or extensions cords should be taken care of to the best of your ability.

6. Showcase Your Space

Potential buyers are always interested in storage space. Make sure the basement, attic and laundry spaces are clean and free of unnecessary items.

7. Organized Closets

Although you may hate to think someone is looking in your personal closet space, it is an area of interest for any potential buyer. The better organized and clean your closet appears, the better. A closet that appears larger is well earn your home more points in the mind of a prospect.

8. Bathroom Sparkle

Your bathroom is one of the most important selling features in the home. Take the time to Clean and/or repair the caulking in the shower and tubs. Also keep your tub, sink and toilet clean and free of any mildew or soap scum.

9. Cozy Bedrooms

Showing a comfortable bedroom is a must. Get rid of excess furniture for a more spacious look and if possible dress up the room with colorful bedspreads and fresh or clean curtains.

10. Daytime Showing

Pull back those curtains and let the sun shine in! A bright home shows how cheery the property is.

11. Evening Showing

Turn on all your indoor and outdoor lights if a prospect is visiting your home at night. Lights bring warmth to the home and make prospective buyers feel welcome.

12. Watch Your Pets

When you’re showing your home it is important to understand that most visitors don’t feel comfortable around other people’s pets. Try and have your cat or dog outside and leashed or try and take the pets for a drive while the home is being shown.

13. A Low Profile is Better

Let your real estate agent associate with a buyer. Your agent knows what a prospective buyer needs and wants. Your realtor will have a much easier time explaining the virtues of your home if you stay in the background. The best thing to do is simply go for a drive while your home is being shown.

14. Assist Your Agent

Your agent will have a much easier time if all showings are booked through the office. If there are particulars your agent should know about the property that were initially missed, bring them to light. Your agent will appreciate the honesty and it may help in better results.