Thank you for calling our hotline. Following are 11 tips to sell your home for top dollar. We hope you find them useful and interesting. We will be following up with a phone call within 24 hours to ensure you received the fax or just in case you have any questions, to receive this information by fax dial 6 now, or at any time during this recording.
Buying and selling a home is one of the largest and most important transactions a person makes in their life. This is not the kind of transaction that a person performs very often, therefore, frequently results in mistakes that could have been avoided by careful research or by hiring a professional real estate agent.
You only have one chance to make a good first impression. "A HOME HAS 60 SECONDS TO MAKE A LASTING FIRST IMPRESSION, SO MAKE IT A GOOD ONE."
Buyers first get attracted to a house based on the way the exterior looks, which is called "curb appeal." Curb appeal is the first look potential buyers take at a home's exterior from the street--as well as the property's location and neighborhood. A home with good "curb appeal" has better chances of being seen from the inside.
Once inside, today's homebuyers look for homes with certain characteristics. Here are some of those characteristics that will help you sell your home for top dollar.
- Pay attention to the "curb appeal," the landscaping and front exterior. Trim back trees and shrubs that block windows or views. Plant colorful flowers in the front yard. Paint the exterior if needed. Pay special attention to the front door, front windows, and garage door. Be sure that the front yard is cut and trim.
- Clean it up. Builders set up a model home with just enough furniture to make the rooms appealing. Look at your own home. Remove large-scale furniture when possible. They make rooms appear smaller. Open up tight traffic flow areas, and highlight key areas with lighting to accentuate the charm of your home.
- Make it nice, spacious, and bright. Replace the light bulbs to the maximum wattage allowed by your fixtures. Open all shades, shutters, and drapes. Organize your closets. Have extra hangars in the entry closet - room for coats. When replacing worn or dated carpets, re-carpet everything the same throughout the house, however, keep in mind that some people prefer hardwood floors to carpeting, so don't overspend. If painting the interior, use white or very light shades of color. This creates an "empty canvas" for the buyer to work with.
- Appeal to all of the senses. Make sure your home is free of offensive odors. Use room fresheners to create pleasant aromas. Nothing turns off a buyer more than odors. Good aromas include fresh baked breads and cookies. A trick that works well is to place a few drops of vanilla on aluminum foil and place it in a low temperature oven. Turn on soft music, and turn the TV off.
- Stay out. When prospective buyers are viewing your home, give them the privacy to discuss your home freely among themselves. They need to feel at home in your home. I have seen many beautiful homes that could've sold quickly stay longer in the market because of a "chatty owner." Another fast way to lose a buyer is by making them feel as if they are intruding--interrupting your dinner, your ballgame, or whatever. So, take a walk or visit a neighbor while the buyers are touring your home.
For 6 more tips to sell your home for top dollar, dial 6 now to receive a fax. Dial 7 to speak with a live person, or remain on the line to leave a message.
