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10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable |
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Tuesday, 03 April 2007 |
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More suggestions on how you can maximize the chances that your home will sell quickly and for as close as possible to your asking price.
1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file
stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small
decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem
roomier. Clean out the garage.
2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash
fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the
stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression
and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.
5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light
sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other
dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.
6. Make minor repairs that can create a
bad impression. Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens,
cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll
give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.
7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the
leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright
flowers near the entryway.
8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
9. Clean your gutters.
10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.
5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale
1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range.
2. Get your house market ready for at least two weeks before you begin showing it.
3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often
disruptive to have a house ready to show on the spur of the moment, but
the more often someone can see your home, the sooner you’ll find a
seller.
4. Be ready for the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.
5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your
home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be
prepared to lower your asking price.
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