Don’t be lazy, really try to sell your home

By Justin Hunter

The real estate market in the majority of the U.S. is shifting to the buyer’s favor, which means that sellers have to be on their game and really try to sell their home. Regardless of the current market conditions, there is no excuse for not trying your best to sell for top dollar. If you found out that you lost a sale because you were too lazy, you would be sick to your stomach.

By just going the extra mile, which may actually only be a couple extra feet, you could end up saving or netting thousands of extra dollars.

The article, “How to Get the Best Price for Your House,” printed in themortgagewire.com, offers a few inexpensive ways to make sure your home is ready to be sold.

“The best price to sell your home is always determined by how you compare against your competition, the house down the street. If your property looks better than the next guy’s the customer will buy yours.”

You may be thinking that as long as the floors are vacuumed, your good to go. But you wouldn’t try to sell your car with a giant scratch on the hood, would you?

The first thing you will want to concentrate on is the outside and overall appearance of the home.

“Paint it, wash it, mow it and clip it. First impressions are lasting, and you don’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. Look at your home from the street. If you can’t see it through the trees, trim bushes so windows are completely exposed. Make sure your approach to the house is clear of overhanging foliage. Wash the windows. If you have a blacktop driveway, put a fresh coat of sealer on it. Dress up flowerbeds with new shrub or flowers and repair any damaged fencing.”

Well, that was easy enough. Now you should concentrate on the inside of the home. The best approach to this is to focus on each room, hallway and closet separately.

First, arrange the furniture in each room to create as much open space as possible. This will also make the room more appealing. It may not be very functional for your everyday living but you are not doing this for you, you are doing it for the buyer. Then clean, clean, clean. Remove as much clutter as possible, including the closets. A buyer will want to see how much closet space there is (especially important for women) and there is nothing worse than seeing it cluttered with junk. It also creates the impression that the house is usually messy and you just cleaned it, which is true but they shouldn’t know that.

“If wallpaper is out dated or paint is old and chipped, put on a fresh coat especially in the kitchen and bathrooms. Kitchen counters should be clear with just the basic items you need. Make sure faucets shine and don’t leek. Toilets should flush properly and not keep running. Tile or tub liners are in good shape and clean. Repair or replace chipped sinks or tubs. And again keep them neat and free of clutter.”

Don’t forget about the basement and attics. These are key areas to dust. Even though it is a water heater, it looks bad if you cannot read the brand name or clearly see the valve colors.

“It doesn’t cost too much to stage the home as well. Pictures, mirrors, pillows and plants can transform a room. You can even rent furniture if you’ve already moved out.”

These are minor improvements that you should do for spring cleaning anyway. You only make a small dent in your wallet with the prospect of gaining a large chunk in your bank account.

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