| Before the Showings Begin |
First Impressions are Lasting Impressions. The exterior of your home often determines how buyers will view the interior, so:
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Make sure your front entrance is clean and inviting. |
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Paint or replace your front door if it's faded or worn. |
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Add some paint to shutters, trim and any other outside features showing signs of wear. |
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Beauty is More than Skin Deep. Buyer's often see the surface condition of your home as a sign of what's underneath, so:
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Keep windows and floors clean. |
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Replace faded wallpaper and glue any areas that have come away from the wall. |
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Repair worn woodwork. |
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Steam clean carpeting or replace it if necessary. |
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| Repair loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers, broken light switches and other minor flaws. |
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Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. |
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Accentuate the Positive. Try to see your home with a fresh perspective and arrange each room to bring out its best attributes, including:
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Open draperies and curtains to let the light in during the showing. |
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Remove all unnecessary clutter from your attic, basement and closets to better display spacious rooms (consider storage or a garage sale to dispose of extraneous items). |
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Arrange all your rooms neatly remove excess furniture. |
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Keep fresh, clean towels in the bathroom. |
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Use candles or air fresheners to make the room smell pleasant. |
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Put Your Home in the Best Light. Strategically lighting your home, even during daytime showings, can create a cozy mood and highlight positive attributes of each room, so:
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Avoid the use of overhead lighting that makes rooms look washed out and lifeless. |
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Be creative and arrange lamps to help smaller rooms seem larger, and larger rooms seem more intimate. |
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| Use lighting to highlight the "living areas" of your home, such as a pair of chairs near a fireplace, or a table in a breakfast area. |
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| After the Showings Begin |
Leave the Selling to the Professional. Buyer's often feel uncomfortable in the presence of a homeowner, so:
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Try not to be present during inspections . |
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If you are home, never apologize for the appearance of your house. |
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Only your REALTOR® or Certified Residential Specialist should discuss any objections and subjects like price, terms, possession and other factors with the buyers. |
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Keep the Disturbances Downs. Potential homebuyers have a lot to take in, so minimize distractions:
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Pipe in classical, jazz or soft rock music, but keep the volume low. |
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If possible, turn off the ringer on your phone during showings. |
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| Keep cats, dogs, litter boxes and feeding dishes out of the way - preferably out of the house. |
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Create a Homey Atmosphere. A buyer tries to picture themselves and their family living in your home, so:
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Create a pleasant aroma by baking cookies or bread, or placing cornmeal in a pie plate in a warm oven on the day of the showing. |
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Keep the heat or air conditioner at comfortable levels. |
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Arrange all your rooms neatly remove excess furniture. |
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If you have a fireplace, light it during winter showings. |
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Have Records Available. Even if a buyer doesn't study them, having records available can make it clear you are conscientious and having nothing to hide.
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Have copies of your gas. electric and water bill from the last 12 months available . |
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Be ready to show all home improvement and repair bills. |
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