SELLING A HOME |
As a homeowner, you can play an important part in the timely sale of your property. When you take the following steps, you’ll help your RE/MAX Sales Associate sell your home faster, at the best possible price.
The easiest and most reliable way to improve the appeal of your home is to enlist a quality home service professional. The right professional can help you get everything in order - from repainting the kitchen to providing a thorough cleaning - so you can stay focused on more important things.
Invest a Few
Hours for Future Dividends
Here’s your chance to clean up in real estate. Clean up the living room, the
bathroom, the kitchen. If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading,
consider some minor redecoration. Fresh wallpaper adds charm and value to your
property. If you’re worried about time, hire professional cleaners or painters
to get your house ready. Remember, prospects would rather see how great your
home really looks than hear how great it could look "with a little work."
Check Faucets
and Bulbs
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks, and suggests faulty or
worn-out plumbing. Burned out bulbs or faulty wiring leave prospects in the
dark. Don’t let little problems detract from what’s right with your home.
Don’t Shut Out a
Sale
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also
stick in a prospect’s mind. Don’t try to explain away sticky situations when
you can easily sand them away. A little effort on your part can smooth the way
toward a closing.
Think Safety
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps: roller skates
on the stairs, festooned extension cords, slippery throw rugs and low hanging
overhead lights. Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for
uninitiated visitors.
Make Room for
Space
Remember, potential buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living
space. They’re looking for storage space, too. Make sure your attic and
basement are clean and free of unnecessary items.
Consider Your
Closets
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Now’s the time to box up
those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity.
Make Your
Bathroom Sparkle
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine. Check and repair damaged or unsightly
caulking in the tubs and showers. For added allure, display your best towels,
mats, and shower curtains.
Create Dream
Bedrooms
Wake up prospects to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look,
get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a
must.
Open up in the
Daytime
Let the sun shine in! Pull back your curtains and drapes so prospects can see
how bright and cheery your home is.
Lighten up at
Night
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside
- when showing your home in the evening. Lights add color and warmth, and make
prospects feel welcome.
Avoid Crowd
Scenes
Potential buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with
people. Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they're
likely to hurry through. Keep the company present to a minimum.
Watch Your Pets
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home.
Pets have a talent for getting underfoot. So do everybody a favor: Keep Kitty
and Spot outside, or at least out of the way.
Think Volume
Rock-and-roll will never die. But it might kill a real estate transaction.
When it's time to show your home, it's time to turn down the stereo or TV.
Relax
Be friendly, but don't try to force conversation. Prospects want to view your
home with a minimum of distraction.
Don't Apologize
No matter how humble your abode, never apologize for its shortcomings. If a
prospect volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let
your experienced RE/MAX Associate handle the situation.
Keep a Low
Profile
Nobody knows your home as well as you do. But RE/MAX Sales Associates know
buyers - what they need and what they want. Your RE/MAX Associate will have an
easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you stay in the
background.
Don't Turn Your
Home into a Second-Hand Store
When prospects come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell
those furnishings you no longer need. You may lose the biggest sale of all.
Defer to
Experience - It's the Experience®
When prospects want to talk price, terms, or other real estate matters, let
them speak to an expert - your RE/MAX Sales Associate.
Help Your Agent
Your RE/MAX Associate will have an easier time selling your home if showings
are scheduled through his or her office. You'll appreciate the results!
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