Dave Nedley, Realtor... Broker-1 Realty

Tips to Help Sell Your Home

I've listed your home, now what?

Give buyers every opportunity

Your home should be available for showing at any time, even though it may be inconvenient on occasion. A lock box attached to your door will make it easy for other agents to show your home to potential home buyers. If you don't have a lock box, a scheduled appointment is necessary, and that often becomes a nuisance for busy people. Do you want them to skip your home and go to see a home that does have a lock box?

With appointments, agents will usually call to give you at least a couple of hours notice before they come. If you refuse to let them show your home at that time, they'll probably just skip it altogether. They are thinking of the schedule of the buyers they represent.

Try not to be home

Prospective home buyers often feel like they are intruding if you are home when they visit. It can distract them from really getting a feel for your home and they may not feel comfortable discussing the particulars of the home while you are present. If you can, go out for a bite to eat, run some errands, spend some time at your local library or take your kids to the park. If you absolutely cannot leave, try to stay out of the way and don't volunteer too much information. Let the agent handle the questions, just make sure you answer any questions the agent may ask you.

Atmosphere

Once you know an appointment is scheduled, you need to turn on all the lights, inside and out, even during the day. At night, a well-lit home gives a 'homey' impression when viewed from the street. During the day, turning on the lights lessens the effect of shadows from sunlight and brightens dim areas. Consider placing live flowers in an attractive location and fresh towels in the bathroom.

For the best results, it's really not a good idea to use scented sprays when preparing for visitors. This makes it seem as if you are trying to hide a foul or unpleasant odor. To create a pleasing aroma, consider a potpourri pot or something that has a natural scent. A neat little trick is to heat up the stove burner or oven and put a drop of vanilla extract on it.

Pet Control?

If you have a pet, it needs to be noted with the MLS listing. The agent about to show your home must be aware of the presence of a pet. The last thing you want is your animal escaping your home, or worse... someone getting injured while touring your home. Try to take your pet with you when you can, and when you can't, place your pet in a pen or a specific room with a sign on the door.

The Kitchen Garbage

You might think this is an odd topic, but it really matters. Make sure that the garbage is emptied every time someone is coming to look at your home, even if you keep the trash can under the sink. You want to send a positive message about your whole home and this helps accomplish just that. You may go through more garbage bags than usual, but it will be well worth it.

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Keep a Tidy Home

This is the easiest part of all-- keep your home as clean as you can.

Make it a habit to have all the beds made in the morning, pick up papers, don't leave empty glasses in the family room, and keep everything dusted and vacuumed.

Try your best to have it look like a model home. Oil squeaky doors and fix dripping faucets, and make those windows and floors shine! The clean house always makes the strongest impression.

And never forget... a house that reflects an owner's pride creates a powerful memory for the potential buyer.